Jumping in with Heart, Soul, and Mind
It was our privilege to begin the new year yesterday morning with our brothers and sisters in our precious local congregation. One of the songs we sang is particularly appropriate for the beginning of a new year.
Let’s take this 1882 song by Louisa M. R. Stead to heart today and each day of the new year. Let’s teach its meaning to our progeny. Let’s use its meaning as the basis for every decision about what we do, say, think, and teach.
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take him at his word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”
Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!
O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust his cleansing blood;
Just in simple faith to plunge me
‘Neath the healing, cleansing flood! [Refrain]
Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace. [Refrain]
Notice the last line of the first verse. If we are going to know what “saith the Lord,” we must study His Word so we can find out. If our children are going to know what the Lord says, we must teach them.
In 2016 Ray and I traveled to Mount Rushmore with one of our daughters and her family. On our way home, we spent the night in Omaha, Nebraska. The next morning we strolled across the Missouri River on a pedestrian bridge. Ray and I had our picture taken as we stepped from Nebraska to Iowa.
Let’s step into 2023 completely committed to trusting Jesus in everything. Let’s not simply step into the new year with that trust. Let’s jump in with both feet — and all of our hearts, souls, and minds.
. . . seeing that His divine power
has granted to us everything
pertaining to life and godliness . . .
2 Peter 1:3