It is Well...

This song is a great reminder of the peace and assurance we have in Christ. No matter what is going on in your life, if you have Christ, you have the promises of God. You will never be snatched from His hand. In the tempest, pray for peace. 

"It Is Well With My Soul"

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul. 

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul. 

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! 

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Colossians 4:2-6: "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Make the most of every opportunity. Let others in on your life so that they too will be able to experience the peace that we experience daily by having Christ active in our lives. I pray that God will open doors for His message in my life and in yours as well so that we too may proclaim the mystery that is Christ.

1 Corinthians 2: 10-16: "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ."

We have the mind of Christ. Whew. While it is not our job to judge or to try and instruct the Lord in how He ought to do things, it is our job to be available to be used by the Lord. While we were still covered by our sins, the Word was foolishness to us. It is the same for others who do not know the Lord. God is foolishness to them because they are perishing. May we act as though we have been changed by Christ. 

1 Corinthians 9:16-18: "For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel."

Necessity. Upon me. May I not disregard the commands of Christ. I also pray that I will do so lovingly, willingly, and in a steadfast manner. WOE TO ME if I disregard the calling of Christ in my life. I am hurting others if I am disobedient. In my inadequacy, Christ uses in me in the manner He sees fit. Let me not abuse my place in Christ's family. To be a member of a family is to respect, love, honor, care for, and defend each member no matter the "cost" or "consequence." May I not be selfish in my sharing, but may the Lord be able to use me through my weakness and inadequacy to share Him with others.

1 Corinthians 13:1-8: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away."

Even with multiple gifts, you are nothing without love. I can do and do and give and give, but if I do not love these people, I AM that clanging symbol. 

God, please give me great compassion for your people, both those in Your hand, and those not within Your hand.