"Triumphant and Strong"

[PraisingHimAlways]

“Triumphant and Strong”

Life lived without You is a lesson in despair
Every activity is futile, devoid of Your hand
Many are aware of an emptiness within them
A deep spiritual hunger they can’t understand

We were once lost, blind, captives in darkness
By the Truth of Your Word, we became free
You forgave us, by Your grace You saved us
Your love and mercy on display for all to see

Your Word refreshes, renews, and restores us
In Your Presence forever is where we belong
Prayer gives us strength in times of weakness
Only You can make us triumphant and strong

Psalms 73:25 (NASB)
Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.

[mattfivefour]

I love that last stanza. So true!

But I wish this were true, as well:

You forgave us, by Your grace You saved us
Your love and mercy on display for all to see

It should be. It is what being witnesses means— so changed in our lives that all can see the gospel we proclaim is true. However, as I wrote in another thread last night:

"We are suppose to be in the world but not of it. But much of our lives still revolve around the things of the world and the pleasures of life IN the world. I wonder if an alien arrived on planet earth and studied individual human beings throughout their daily lives, outside of Christians going to church would he find any real difference in behavior between the unsaved man and the so-called saint?"

[SteveJM]

I love that last stanza. So true!

But I wish this were true, as well:



It should be. It is what being witnesses means— so changed in our lives that all can see the gospel we proclaim is true. However, as I wrote in another thread last night:

"We are suppose to be in the world but not of it. But much of our lives still revolve around the things of the world and the pleasures of life IN the world. I wonder if an alien arrived on planet earth and studied individual human beings throughout their daily lives, outside of Christians going to church would he find any real difference in behavior between the unsaved man and the so-called saint?"

You share an interesting thought here. I believe that the alien, assuming he or she is highly intelligent and completely objective, would probably see that there is a great complexity to these creatures that call themselves Christian, many of whom go to church and many who don't. I do believe the alien would conclude that there are many who are not at all different, there are even some who seem to be worse in behavior than those who don't call themselves Christian, many who live double lives, and many who are actors. However, there are some who are quite different. Even the different ones have their moments when they are like the non Christians but they don't linger there, they don't make it an ongoing practice, and when they fail, they are torn and grieve. They cry out to someone who seems to be invisible, they lift their arms and hands upwards and offer praise, they lay prostrate on the ground and weep, they reach out and help those in need, they often have a selfless attitude, they rejoice even when they are in pain, they have joy and love. When no one visible is around it most often makes no difference in how they live or act.

[mattfivefour]

Even the different ones have their moments when they are like the non Christians but they don't linger there, they don't make it an ongoing practice, and when they fail, they are torn and grieve. They cry out to someone who seems to be invisible, they lift their arms and hands upwards and offer praise, they lay prostrate on the ground and weep, they reach out and help those in need, they often have a selfless attitude, they rejoice even when they are in pain, they have joy and love. When no one visible is around it most often makes no difference in how they live or act.

And I am one.