Beauty in Words

I have been realizing lately that I have become so busy in this life of running around, meeting people for dinner, running errands, etc. that there are times where I am so immersed in what I am doing that I wouldn't be able to hear the Lord is he was blowing a fog horn in my ear. And we know that at most times, when the Lord wishes to speak directly to our hearts, its in a "gentle whisper" (1 Kings 19:12). So I have begun to try and make it a point to spend more time in solitude or simply just being still. Last night, after somewhat of a down day, I laid in my room, with candles lit, listening to a new Indellible Grace album I got at their concert on Saturday while I was in Richmond. There is one song that I kept replaying over and over, I'm not sure I even caught all the words when I was listening to it last night, but it was overwhelming the calming and yet stirring effect it had on me. I'm looking forward to digging into it and looking for what God might be whispering to me in it.

"Jesus, I my Cross Have Taken"

by Henry Lyte

1. Jesus, I my cross have taken,

All to leave and follow Thee.

Destitute, despised, forsaken,

Thou from hence my all shall be.

Perish every fond ambition,

All I’ve sought or hoped or known.

Yet how rich is my condition!

God and heaven are still my own.

2. Let the world despise and leave me,

They have left my Savior, too.

Human hearts and looks deceive me;

Thou art not, like them, untrue.

O while Thou dost smile upon me,

God of wisdom, love, and might,

Foes may hate and friends disown me,

Show Thy face and all is bright.

3. Man may trouble and distress me,

’Twill but drive me to Thy breast.

Life with trials hard may press me;

Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.

Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me

While Thy love is left to me;

Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me,

Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

4. Go, then, earthly fame and treasure,

Come disaster, scorn and pain

In Thy service, pain is pleasure,

With Thy favor, loss is gain

I have called Thee Abba Father,

I have stayed my heart on Thee

Storms may howl, and clouds may gather;

All must work for good to me.

5. Soul, then know thy full salvation

Rise o’er sin and fear and care

Joy to find in every station,

Something still to do or bear.

Think what Spirit dwells within thee,

Think what Father’s smiles are thine,

Think that Jesus died to win thee,

Child of heaven, canst thou repine.

6. Haste thee on from grace to glory,

Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.

Heaven’s eternal days before thee,

God’s own hand shall guide us there.

Soon shall close thy earthly mission,

Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,

Hope shall change to glad fruition,

Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.