Thinning my Thoughts

"In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul" (Psalm 94:19). "Now the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work" (2 Thessalonians 2:16,17).

Thoughts bombard me everyday
With a swarm of vain distractions,
Till I hear what God will say
And recall His wondrous actions.

Thus my thoughts are by Him thinned;
Lesser thoughts He rightly sifts.
Though He knows that I have sinned,
Still His love delights and lifts.

Everlasting consolation!
He has wrapped us in His love!
Comforted by His salvation,
I will think on things above.

Whether We Wake

"God hath no appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him" (1 Thessalonians 5:9,10).

Christ Jesus died to save and keep
Our souls by His salvation,
That whether we should wake or sleep
He'd be our close relation.

For though it's better to depart
And thus be with the Lord,
We do not have to wait to start
To live in sweet accord.

For this is why our Savior died,
And why He rose again.
That we may NOW with Him abide,
And ever after then.

Comfort of His Coming

"The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

Just imagine, if you will,
When our Lord comes with a shout;
Contemplate that wondrous thrill
When we're caught up and called out!

These are things that God has said
He has surely prearranged.
First shall rise the Christian dead,
Then shall we be also changed.

Comfort one another thus
With these words that point toward
The time when God shall rapture us
To be forever with the Lord.

Energy for Eternity

"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 1:2,3).

The work of our faith, the labor of love,
The patience of hope our Lord gives,
Are drawing their life from our Savior above
And thus testify that He lives.

Remember the source of your heart's energy,
The grace upon which your soul feeds,
Is amply supplied through eternity,
With more than enough for our needs.

Tick Talk

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" (Psalm 90:12). "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man" (Colossians 4:5,6).

So teach us to number our days,
That Christ shall be seen in our walk.
So give us the grace that conveys
The Gospel of Christ in our talk.

It's true that time waits for no man.
Time brings everyday to a halt.
So teach us to reach who we can.
So season our speech, Lord, with salt.

Incomparably Incomprehensible

"Who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?.... O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto Thee? Or to Thy faithfulness round about Thee?" (Psalm 89:6,8).

Is there some comparison among the sons of men
That manifests a likeness to our Lord?
Search the world over in its chronicles and then
Your search will end with no one to record.

Is there some imagined deity or hero one can find
That may be likened to our mighty God?
What a futile effort of the human, finite mind,
Which cannot comprehend a thought so broad!

In power and in righteousness, in wisdom and in love,
Our God transcends comparisons on earth.
The brightness of His majesty excels all else above,
As heaven ceaselessly proclaims His worth!

Treasures and Triumph

"Christ, in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.... having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them.... If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God" (Colossians 2:3,15, 3:1).

Riches flow from heaven's treasures
Hid in Jesus Christ.
Why, then, by the world's pleasures,
Are we thus enticed?

Triumph over Satan's power
Comes from Christ our Lord.
Why then do we faint this hour,
When strength may be outpoured?

Treasures in our Lord abound
With triumph for His own.
Lift your eyes to where they're found
In Jesus Christ alone.

Spiritual Springs

"As well as the singers as the players shall be there: all my springs are in Thee" (Psalm 87:7). "God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the Hope of glory.... Wherefore I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily" (Colossians 1:27-29).

Christ in me! My spirit sings!
See the mystery unveiling!
In Him I have found my springs
From His Spirit, never failing.

Hope of glory! Christ in you!
God makes known the mystery,
Bringing into public view
Christ at work in you and me.

Thinking on Thanking

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things... and the God of peace shall be with you" (Philippians 4:6-9).

The peace of God attends the mind
That thinks upon thanksgiving
For all things from our God so kind,
Provided for our living.

The God of peace shall not forsake,
Nor ever leave His own.
Think on this, and comfort take,
That God has made this known.

Road of Righteousness

"Righteousness shall go before Him, and shall set us in the way of His steps" (Psalm 85:13). "He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honor" (Proverbs 21:21). "Found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.... forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:9-14).

There is a road of righteousness,
Where God directs our way
Within the path that He will bless,
And there I choose to stay.

This righteousness is not my own,
But rather Christ the Lord's.
It rests on Christ, the Corner Stone;
What peace this truth affords!

Upon this road I thus embark
That leads to heaven's splendor.
I press toward that glorious mark,
In Christ, my soul's Defender.

Forgetting, then, those things behind,
I reach for things before.
These things are hidden from the blind;
These riches fools ignore.

But God has set before my eyes
These treasures in my Lord.
And He is therefore all the prize
My soul shall press toward.

Meekly Minded

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God... made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:5-8).

Let this mind be found in you
Which was in Jesus Christ.
Though He reigned as God He knew
He would be sacrificed.

What love is this that could compel
Our Lord to leave His throne,
To rescue sinners bound for hell,
And claim them as His own?

It is the love He calls us by,
And also calls us to.
Remember why He came to die:
Let this mind be in you.

Fallen to the Furtherance

"But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel" (Philippians 1:12).

How good it is to understand
That God makes no mistakes.
The things which God in love has planned
Have worked out for our sakes.

In every single circumstance,
In joy, or peace, or strife,
The Gospel and its furtherance
Is worked out in our life.

Be aware, then, of this fact,
In each event and place,
That God in mercy longs to act
To further thus His grace.

Dominions of Darkness

"They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness" (Psalm 82:5). "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it and is safe" (Proverbs 18:10). "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12).

Walking in darkness of this fallen world,
Blindly directed by deadly dominions,
The hopelessly lost are helplessly hurled
Into the pit of deceptive opinions.

They walk in the darkness of sin's dreadful night,
Driven by forces which render them blind;
Further and further they turn from the light,
Searing their conscience and closing their mind.

Thus we're reminded the battle we fight
Is never against flesh and blood in our day.
The battle arrayed between darkness and light
Can only be won as we trust and obey.

Counter Counsel

"But My people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of Me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust, and they walked in their own counsels.... I should soon have subdued their enemies and turned My hand against their enemies" (Psalm 81:11,12,14). [He] worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Ephesians 1:11).

What contrast we can see
In these counsels that compete:
In God's counsel: victory,
In man's counsel is defeat!

Let the counsel of God's will
Counter every other thought.
Hear Him, now, my soul, be still:
He is Lord, and you are not!

Mortally Mistaken

"Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved" (Psalm 80:19). "Wherefore He saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light" (Ephesians 5:14).

Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts;
Draw us by Your shining face.
You are the One in Whom our soul boasts;
We bask in Your marvelous grace.

Shine on us Lord, as we are awakened,
To rise from the shadows of sin,
Lest we who are sleeping be sadly mistaken
For those having no life within.

Walking Worthy

"Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (Ephesians 4:1).

God has given all His own
Grace to walk in their vocation.
Thus we're called to make Him known
And to share His great salvation.

Thus among God's family
We are called to edify.
Thus towards humanity,
We are called to testify.

Let us therefore walk today
According to God's gracious call,
Walking worthy that we may
Thus manifest His grace to all.

Granted Grace

"Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8).

There is a reason for the measure
Of the grace God grants to me:
It is that I may preach the treasure
Found in Christ eternally.

Grace that's granted should be used
For the cause it was imparted.
How much grace have I refused
While distracted or halfhearted?

Grant me, Lord, a heart that's steady,
That I may extend my reach
To the ones you have made ready,
Through the grace you give to preach.

Talk of the Times

"I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.... I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember Thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all Thy work, and talk of Thy doings" (Psalm 77:4,5,11,12). "By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast..... But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our Peace" (Ephesians 2:8,9,13,14).

There were times I could not speak
When trouble took its toll.
My heart was faint, my mind was weak,
Frustration filled my soul.

I found no comfort in my heart;
But just more cause for tears.
Until the day I came apart
To ponder ancient years.

Then it was that I unveiled
A wondrous medication:
I remembered God prevailed
And paused for meditation.

There I found a point of view,
As from a mountain peak,
That gave me a perspective new
And loosed my tongue to speak.

Then it was the tables turned,
For now I could not cease
To speak of grace I had not earned
From Christ, who is our Peace.

Ought to Owe

"Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about Him bring presents unto Him that ought to be feared" (Psalm 76:11). "The thoughts of the righteous are right" (Proverbs 12:5).

We owe to the Lord our love,
We owe to the Lord our soul,
For grace that He brought from above,
For redemption He paid in full.

We owe to the Lord our fear
For the truth that He ponders our way.
Let all who by grace are brought near
Pay their vows that they ought to pay.

Rage and Reason

"Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him... thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God... The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him. Herein thou hast done foolishly... Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house, for he was in a rage with him because of this thing" (2 Chronicles 16:7-10).

King Asa lived for many years
A life to give God glory,
Till rage and reason wrought his tears
And wrote a different story.

Foolish reason, fleshly rage,
And many other sins
Find their entrance on the page
Where arrogance begins.

Some things that I think know,
May after all be wrong.
This my weakness God would show,
And show Himself as strong.

So what have I do with rage,
This uncontrolled emotion?
Oh that it were in a cage,
And tossed into the ocean!

Rid me, Lord, of foolish reason
And rage before they start.
By Your Spirit, in each season,
Rule, Lord, in my heart.

Fountain Found

"The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you.... Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded " (2 Chronicles 15:2).

Seek now the Lord and He will be found.
Forsake Him He will be hidden.
Let your heart seek Him that strength may abound,
And straying from Him be forbidden.

Surely in one sense the Lord does not leave;
Yes, even if we disobey.
But strength that God offers we cannot receive,
Whenever our hearts go astray.

Let not your hands, therefore, become weak.
Your diligence God will reward.
His fountain of strength will be found when you seek
And turn with your heart to the Lord.

Enlightened on the End

"I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.... Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.... Lo, they that are far from Thee shall perish.... But it is good for me to draw near to God" (Psalm 73:17,24,27).

I could not be comforted nor comprehend,
Until I went in to the Lord's sanctuary:
Then understood I the soul's latter end,
And there I released the burden I carried.

O what a difference perspective can make!
I was so foolish, but God loved me still.
O what a promise! He will not forsake
The soul that surrenders to His perfect will.

Those who are far from Him surely shall perish,
But those who draw near He'll receive into glory.
Thus I'm enlightened to hold and to cherish,
The Author and End of the greatest love story.

Crucified with Christ

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

The power of living in Christ
I found in the truth of His love.
For me was my Lord sacrificed;
For me He came down from above.

I ponder how much Jesus gave,
By laying His life down for me,
And that He would go to the grave
To rescue and set my soul free.

Thus I am taught to surrender,
To love that was thoroughly tried.
For He is my Lord and Defender,
And I am with Christ crucified.

Prudent Preparation

"And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord" (2 Chronicles 12:14).

Before the new day has begun
Before all the pressure will start,
Before the fresh dawn of the sun,
Give place to preparing your heart.

If not in the morning, then when?
The demands of the day do not cease.
Meet God in the morning and then
You will carry His promise of peace.

Each morning we ought to prepare,
By fixing our hearts on God's Word,
Then seeking God early in prayer,
Applying the wisdom we've heard.

Escaping Evil

"Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father" (Galatians 1:3,4).

Grace be to you with the wonderful peace
That was wrought by our Jesus Lord Jesus Christ.
From this evil world our escape and release,
Was bought by His self sacrifice.

We were trapped in a world without hope or grace
Consigned to this evil condition.
We were headed for wrath with the whole human race
Destined for endless perdition.

But God in His love had a redemption plan—
Though costly, He paid it in full—
By sending His Son in the form of a Man
To rescue and ransom our soul!

Triumphant Trinity

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen" (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Majestic and merciful union:
Christ Jesus, the Father, and Spirit,
By Your grace, by Your love, and communion,
You speak peace to all will hear it.

Triumphant Trinity, reigning above,
We're joining the chorus of Your blood-bought host
To thank You for grace, to praise You for love,
To heed the communion of Your Holy Ghost.

For the grace that is Jesus our Lord's,
For the love of our God on the throne,
For communion Your Spirit affords,
Receive now the praise of Your own!

Infinite Issues

"He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death" (Psalm 68:20). "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.... Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil" (Proverbs 4:23,27).

Our God is the God of creation;
From Him we have life and have breath.
Our God is the God of salvation
From Him are the issues from death.

The issues from death and its prison
Are Christ's who is holding the key.
The Savior of sinners is risen,
With truth that will set the soul free.

How easily we may depart,
Distracted by everyday strife
From earnestly keeping our heart
From which are the issues of life.

The issues of life involve choice
To walk on the path of God's light.
So let us pay heed to His voice;
Turn not to the left or the right.

Hidden Half

"And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon.... she said to the king.... behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard" (2 Chronicles 9:3-6).

One day we surely shall behold
The rest of heaven's story
To find the half had not been told
Of Jesus and His glory.

For now our vision is so dim
We cannot comprehend
The matchless glories found in Him
Who is our dearest Friend.

For surely Christ exceeds the fame
Of every mortal word.
We scratch the surface of His name;
There's so much more unheard!

Yet till we cross the sea of time
And come to heaven's shore,
There's still so much of the sublime
In Christ we may explore!

Proper Praise

"Sing forth the honor of His name: make His praise glorious" (Psalm 66:2).

Praise has lost its beauty,
Unworthy of our King,
If it is merely duty,
A boring, tedious thing.

Make His praise then glorious,
Who ought to be adored!
Praise that is laborious
Is odious to the Lord.

Sing the honor of His name!
Declare His reputation:
How our Lord and Savior came
To purchase our salvation.

Meditate upon His love
And all our Savior did,
Then lift your heart to God above
Till praise cannot be hid.

How glorious is proper praise
That manifests the worth
Of Christ in all His perfect ways
In heaven and on earth.

Understating the Unspeakable

"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15).

How can we communicate
The splendor of God's Gift,
With human words that understate
The praise we seek to lift?

Wonderful! Exceeding great!
And still these words fall short.
Our words must underestimate
What heaven would report.

But while our words cannot convey
The praise our Lord deserves,
The one who chooses to obey
Will praise Him as he serves.