Thanksgiving is over in our little Minnesota town. People are starting to put up their Christmas decorations, which are admittedly very pretty when nightfall comes so early and we’re starting to get snowy, cloudy days. We had 20 people in our home on Thursday, as we gave thanks and ate lots of food. My husband read from Psalm 103 before we ate…
“Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:1-5).
Sometimes I do forget all His benefits! Why is that?
As we were singing our closing hymn yesterday morning at church, I pondered the words and how they relate to my often unthankful heart.
Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of my sickness, into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
I think that one reason I forget to thank God for His benefits is that I’d rather stay in my sickness, want, and sin. Sometimes I like it there. Maybe I don’t really like being sick with sin, but I like it better than repenting of it, turning away from it, and not continuing in it any longer. The Bible says it really isn’t very hard to obey God; therefore, my heart must really like my sin and want to stay in it. It’s just more comfortable in the mud and grime of my pig pen.
Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
As this hymn writer had figured out, it’s only when I admit my own “shameful failure and loss” that I can begin to see the cross of Jesus. So many times, I’m sick but I don’t even know it. I’m blind and stumbling, but in my pride, I think I can lead others.
God allows sorrows, storms, and distress into my life, not to harm me, but to help me see my need.
But note what this hymn writer says! “Out of distress to jubilant psalm!”
When I finally confess my sin to God, coming to the cross of Jesus for the payment for my sin, I exchange my distress for singing! I receive a thankful heart!
Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy blessèd will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Only my pride keeps me from coming to Jesus. However, when I leave a focus on myself in order to dwell in His love, living with a pure heart before Him, it feels like coming back to life again.
I like how the hymn says I’m “on wings like a dove.” My distresses are probably still there, since most of them are the consequences of my own sinful choices. They won’t go away overnight. Yet now I can soar in thankfulness above them, as well as follow biblical prescriptions for healing in time.
Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the joy and light of Thy throne,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Yes, fear and dread of the tomb are the worst things. But with the forgiveness I receive, I also receive peace, joy and light. Fear runs away. Thankfulness and singing replace it.
So now that the turkey leftovers are just about gone, is my heart able to maintain thankfulness? Am I able to give thanks always for all things? Life will certainly have hard times when it’s truly a sacrifice to be thankful, but as I remember all that God has done for me, through Jesus His Son, my heart will be filled with songs of thanksgiving all year long.
(Listen to this hymn online, as well as the story behind its writing, by clicking here.)
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