Thursday thoughts is an occasional feature of this blog, only published when I have thoughts to share.
The following was “contributed” by my sister, without her permission, taken from an email she sent me. The content touched me, but also touched upon the topic of a discussion on social media I have been involved in that involves God’s providence and sovereignty – a confirmation that He is speaking of it now.
First is a song, I Shall Not Want by Audrey Assad, which has been out for nearly a decade though this is the first I’d heard of it. You can hear this version of it online, it is lovely in its simplicity and depth!
From the love of my own comfort
From the fear of having nothing
From a life of worldly passions
Deliver me O God
From the need to be understood
From the need to be accepted
From the fear of being lonely
Deliver me O God
Deliver me O God
And I shall not want, I shall not want
When I taste Your goodness I shall not want
When I taste Your goodness I shall not want
From the fear of serving others
From the fear of death or trial
From the fear of humility
Deliver me O God
Deliver me O God
No, I shall not want, I shall not want
When I taste Your goodness I shall not want
The second thing that she shared, which I am including for the same reason, is a prayer by John Wesley. It is already helping me to examine my soul and my intentions where my Christian walk is concerned; I can also see how these words, though petitioning God, will keep my commitment to Him alive in my life. Though I became His nearly 45 years ago (March 7, 1976) and that covenant made on earth was ratified in heaven then, I never want to take His sovereignty over me for granted.
I am no longer my own but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing, put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you;
exalted for you, or brought low for you;
let me be full, let me be empty;
let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
And the covenant now made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen
To which I can only add, in Paul’s words as he received them from God, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13 ESV
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