What if we lived as if what Jesus and Scripture have revealed to us about God is actually true?
If we lived out the universal and Life-giving commands which have been graciously handed to us?
If we endeavored to live mindful of what we know to be the deeper reality? In the large space of God’s presence, we beheld our worries, memories, physical afflictions, and responsibilities in the context of our belovedness?
I think if we kept just a handful of foundational truths of God before us continually, as reminders of what actually is, we would live in peace, joy, and immense capacity.
Oh if we would draw near to God in His worship with a true heart, in full assurance of faith concerning our enjoyment of Christ and His salvation, how differently we would live.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, casting all your cares upon Him, committing the disposal of yourself to Him in all your concerns.
Trust by faith that your sins are really blotted out, that He totally forgives all that is confessed, He grants you the desires of your heart if you delight in Him, and you will not be shaken if you keep Him in mind continually, remaining in His love for you (Is.26:3,Ps.16:8,Jn.15:9).
Persuade yourself thru Christ that God, according to His promise, will never fail you or forsake you; that He takes Fatherly care of you; that He’ll withhold no good thing from you, and will make all things to work out for your good. We know He will! No irredeemable harm can ever come to you!
These rock solid foundational truths beget in us a right frame of spirit, thoroughly furnished for every good work toward our neighbor.
Attention to these truths, to Jesus and Scripture, places our life and world within the remembered reality of God’s grace.*
Yesterday at Ekklesia we sang “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Growing up, I must’ve sung this song over fifty times. But it was not until yesterday that the words penetrated me with the reality of God’s truth and beauty and care at a level much deeper than the surface. It communicates so well the reality waiting for us to live into–fellowship and union with Christ.
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge; Take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer; In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there.
Please take this song with you today and ingest it into your soul, metabolizing its truth into your life.
Know this, that I will be singing this song all day today. So if you are ever wondering at any point what I may be doing, you can rest assured I will be singing this–in the car, at school, the chiropractor, Ripple Effect, the gym…and it will be easily and completely memorized by day’s end. I’m just sayin’, I’m gonna do that.
*Paraphrase of a Susan Phillips quote