Prevenient Grace

Prevenient Grace - I first heard those words and their definition as a teenager when reading AW Tozer's The Pursuit of God.

                  "We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit. (John 6:44)...and it is by this prevenient drawing that God takes from us every vestige of credit for the act of coming. The impulse to pursue God originates with God..."  

     I often think of it as grace before grace.  He first gives the grace of giving us an awareness or desire for Himself that we might see the grace of salvation, relationship and intimacy that He offers us.  This is soooo encouraging!!  It means that anytime we feel Him drawing us near, calling us higher or into new things, it's not because we had this sudden brilliant idea or great spiritual yearning, but simply because He wanted to do a work, and He first desired us and drew us into His desire.  The great news about this is that we don't have to strive or labor for it but just come willingly and agree with His plan and desire because He's already willed to do it!! 

     How many times I have bought into the lie that somehow I desire Him more than He desires me.  I'm striving and wanting a depth of relationship, and He's holding me at arms length and not quite sure He wants me.  This is such a great deception because we can only reach out to touch Him because he's holding us close enough to do so.  As Tozer says: "All the time we are pursuing Him we are already in His hand." It is His delight, desire and intent purpose to draw near to us.

1. I am thine, O Lord, I have heard thy voice,  and it told thy love to me; but I long to rise in the arms of faith and be closer drawn to thee. Refrain: Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where thou hast died. Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to thy precious, bleeding side.     His voice will always speak His love to us.  I think sometimes we buy into a lie that says that He is displeased with us and His voice is sure to point out all that's wrong with us, but my friends, all that is wrong with us has already been taken care of at the cross and He sees us not in our mess but through the righteousness of Christ and He is well pleased...satisfied.  Not satisfaction like: "All right, I've had enough, what's next" but a deep down satisfaction of being filled and enjoying it with great pleasure.  He cannot, He will not decline our desire to be drawn nearer, for it was first desired in His own heart!    His voice always speaks love...IJn 3:19-21 "This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence: if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows everything (and He doesn't condemn us!!! Rom 8:1-2) Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him."  Confidence in who we are in Christ sets us free from feelings of condemnation.  It is the enemy who condemns us, not our Father.  2. Consecrate me now to thy service, Lord, by the power of grace divine; let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, and my will be lost in thine. (Refrain)     Once we desire and are being brought near, the automatic outflow of this is a heart's desire to serve the One who as drawn us near and our heartbeat starts looking more like His heartbeat and we start desiring more and more that which He desires so that our will is lost, taken up, consumed with His - oh beautiful grace gift!  3. O the pure delight of a single hour that before thy throne I spend, when I kneel in prayer, and with thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend! (Refrain)      He know longer calls us servants but friends.  He desires intimacy, and to get away and soak up His presence is peace, delight, rich satisfaction!  Being drawn nearer is essentially possible by spending time in communion/communication with Him as friend with friend.  He desires time with us and delights in fellowship with us even more than we do!   4. There are depths of love that I cannot know till I cross the narrow sea; there are heights of joy that I may not reach till I rest in peace with thee. (Refrain)    One day we shall know just as we also are known, and we will be given new bodies that are finally able and equipped to know and experience the fullness of love, pleasure and joy that He has to pour out on us.  This side of heaven our bodies can't handle all that He has to give but He increases our capacity and knowledge of His love more and more until one day, He will complete the process by giving us new bodies when we see Him face to face that we might be able to handle and experience all that He has desired from eternity past will be fulfilled.    Story behind the hymn https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-i-am-thine-o-lord Done as spirituals https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRiBbU4Wc7A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMKHHuR2V3s Traditional and well done https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3afd3gbITo8

  

Touched in a little chapel by the gorge

             Have you every wept like it was the first time you heard the Good News? Been struck afresh and deeper by the profundity of how great is our salvation?  Awed by such a beautiful love story written for you?  There's a little church on the outskirts of a little town by the Columbia Gorge that I remember often and with the deepest fondness both because of the genuine, loving friends left behind there and for the memories of times God met me there.

   It was a Saturday night as Salvationists (members of Salvation Army church) gathered for the non-traditional service among some of the most heart-warmingly loving people I've known.  I was helping to lead some of the worship, and we were singing "In Christ Alone"...  This modern hymn has the same progression of Christian life found in most hymns and so full of solid, rich truth.  Truth that anchors the soul in the midst of life's storms, not having to strive for God's approval but knowing that through Christ's righteousness we walk in the light of His pleasure. Just as the Father bestowed pleasure on His Son who took on flesh for our redemption, so through Him, He bestows the same pleasure on us...And then it hit me like it was the first time, like an overwhelming flood of His love and redemption and just as I was singing these words, I was overcome by them and wept: the Wrath of God was satisfied for every sin on Him was laid.  My sin deserved the outpouring of God's wrath, and instead I am given His whole pleasure because He took upon Himself on the cross the Wrath of GOD.  Others carried on the song as I continued strumming my guitar, tears of gratitude and awe streaming down my face.
   
     Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me!  I'm no longer bound by the sins and struggles I once walked in. Because Christ was victorious, I can walk in His victory! What wonderful news!  What hope!  Romans 6:4 "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." This same SPIRIT who raised Jesus from the dead - the power that spoke worlds into existence, raised people to life, and knits us together in our mother's womb - lives in us and through Him causes us always to Triumph!! 2 Cor 2:14 But thanks be to God, the One always leading us in triumph in Christ, and through us in every place making manifest the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

     I remember again when life would sway me...The end of the story is already written...I know how my story ends because of Him. Jesus commands my destiny. No power in hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand.  What hope!  What JOY!!! I am struck again with love and wonder.

“In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;

For ev’ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow’r of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.”









Story behind the song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpipuCeGQn4

One of my favorite versions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ipl-rLRxOrs

A beautiful acapella version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjiiF83q7G0

Like a weaned child

Be still my soul...Like a weaned child is my soul within me.  I have calmed and quieted myself.  Ps 131:2  As a breastfeeding mother, I love those quiet moments after nursing when a child lays still in the arms in almost a drunken stupor of contentedness, satisfaction.  Everything is all right in the world, though, perhaps moments before the child may have been screaming out distress signals indicating hunger or need.  I think God often yearns for us in the midst of our pain and suffering, our brokenness to come quiet, not screaming and kicking, to Him and just rest ourselves in His all-powerful, comforting embrace.

     Have you ever seen an animal caught in a trap or barbed wire?  They thrash and fight, further entangling and cutting themselves up and when a rescuer comes, they tend to thrash all the more, frightened, wounded, helpless yet still struggling to fix this on their own.  What does the rescuer want, need?? For the animal to rest, to relax and let him do the work of rescuing unencumbered.  If an animal will stop fearing and fighting, he can be quickly cut away from the entanglements, bandaged and set on the road to healing.  However, if it will not rest, will not trust, he could cause himself such damage that it will cost even his very life.

   I wonder how often in our struggles, Almighty God comes to our rescue, saying "Do not fear.  Rest in Me.  I will see you through.  No need to defend yourself, lash out at others in your pain or fight your way free of this trial.  Be still and watch how I will use this to make you an overcomer, to bring healing not only to you but to a broken and dying world which needs to see a soul submitted to My working power. "  How often do we really rest, not anxious, striving for release, but content to walk through a trial, stay in the trial and be purified by the trial as long as He would will it, trusting that when it has done its good work, I will be freed and healed.  "Bear patiently this cross of grief and shame."  Leave to thy God to order and provide - He who rules winds and seas, rules over the affairs of men and knows just what we need.  I think how often David spoke to himself - commanding his soul with its questions, fears, rising anxieties: Be still, my soul.  Hope/ put your trust in God for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.   If you need some verses to help calm and quiet yourself, see a short list at the end.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.                 

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq59iE3MhXM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV3DEtJtho8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwkPsKe-39Y

Story behind the song
https://www.sermonwriter.com/hymn-stories/be-still-my-soul

Psalm 46:10 ESV / 

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Exodus 14:14 ESV /

The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Psalm 37:7 ESV /

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

Psalm 62:5 ESV / 

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

Mark 4:39 ESV / 

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Job 6:24 ESV / 

“Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray.

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

Psalm 131:2 ESV /

But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Isaiah 41:10-13 ESV / 

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

Psalm 91:1-16 ESV / 

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, ...

1 Peter 3:4 ESV / 

But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

Lamentations 3:24-26 ESV / 

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Philippians 4:6 ESV / 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Vision: the act or power of seeing

Vision: the act or power of seeing; An aspirational description of what an organization or person would like to achieve or accomplish in the mid-term or long-term future. It is intended to serves as a clear guide for choosing current and future courses of action.


I've been contemplating all week which hymn to choose from so many deep and excellent choices. Two stuck out to me, but as the Lord spoke to me one night while I was lying in bed, Be Thou My Vision won out. Vision can mean two things: an aspirational description or statement intended to serve as a clear guide for choosing current and future courses of action...hmm. Yes. Be Thou my Vision - the ONE Thing that is the clearest of guides to all I choose, all I say, all I pursue both now and forevermore.

And then, the most common definition is the act or power of seeing, and this is what God spoke to me about, opened my eyes to see: Whatever a person looks at - sets his gaze upon - that is what the heart magnifies.  And conversely, whatever the heart sets itself/its gaze upon, this the vision magnifies.  Have you ever noticed that when your heart is drawn after something, you begin to see it or see how it could fit into or relate to many other aspects of life? Over the past Fall my attention has been drawn toward the Creation worldview and I have come to see how everything I believe and all I do, the way I talk and live my life is based upon this foundation (but more on that another time). Remember back to when you first saw or took real notice of your spouse or that boy, your heart began to magnify him - think bigger of him, be consumed by him.  That is the power of vision - it shifts things in your heart and in your life.  (O, be careful little eyes what you see!)

             Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;  
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

     When my vision is set on You, You take Lordship, You rule over my heart, my affection and become that Thing which draws my attention, all other things become small, lesser things compared to This One Consuming Passion. Thy presence my Light...and what is light but that which makes vision possible.  The Light of His Presence breaking into my life grants me the vision to fix my gaze upon Him, and all else compared is a lesser light or no light at all.

     One might also take this to say that we need God's view or vision of things.  Let me see things as You see them.  Give light to my eyes that I see not in the flesh but in the Spirit.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

     The world and all around us shouts loudly in our ears every day.  There are a million things to pull at our thoughts and direct our minds.  How we need His wisdom and the knowledge of what He speaks over us - letting our son-ship, His Fatherhood shape what I believe about myself and the world around me...and the truth that the GOD OF ALL THE EARTH has come not just to dwell with man but in man, that is in me!!! Astounding.  Earth shattering.  Life-changing.  

     I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord reminds me of Joshua, preparing to take the Promise Land - he has a vision of Jesus dressed for battle and Joshua asks, "Whose side are you on?"  And God says essentially, "I'm on the side of the Armies of Heaven."  As if to say, I well know my purposes and will be with those who are with Me."  As we choose Christ, He chooses us and then, wonder of wonders, mysteries of all unbelievable mysteries - we become ONE!  And I am undone at the very thought. Hungry for that to be evident, manifest in my life.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

     He who consumes my vision has become my All in ALL.  My offense and my defense, that which lifts up my head, giving me joy and delight when fears or failures might otherwise consume me.  I can hide away in Him, be raised up by Him, go forth and fight in victory through Him, and understand or glimpse my eternal purpose for Him.  Nothing of myself but all of Him, my One Vision.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

     When He consumes the Vision and Heart and is found to be all in all, everything else is as nothing compared to This VERY GREAT Reward.  Abraham saw it,  Moses was driven by it, Mary experienced it deep in her heart. When we embrace and pursue Him as this Pearl of Great price, the kingdom expands through us, He can use us then, for we have begun to glimpse His great worth. 

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

     I am so thankful to know the end of the story.  The end of my story - Him, seeing the High King of Heaven - my vision being once and for all time consumed perfectly with my Highest Joy. Let come what may, He has already written the end of my story and edited every page in between with His grace and mercy. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lczmaRem3w4

The story behind the hymn:

https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-be-thou-my-vision

https://www.sermonwriter.com/hymn-stories/be-thou-my-vision