Sometimes, it feels like being trapped. Like we’re victims, prisoners of war. Stuck in pressured darkness, feeling there’s no way out of problems, imprisoned in sick bodies, continually being revisited by trauma. It’s all within our contexts of ongoing battles in this fallen world decaying in sin. Sometimes, we’re faced with awareness of our ongoing sin and despair of the unending war within us.
God constantly encourages me by bringing songs to mind in this ongoing suffering.
Especially when I’m feeling so exhausted and weary of the battles. The blind hymnwriter, George Matheson, who wrote:
O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee…
has been such a gift from God. Most days, I must remember His covenant and perfect love as I rest in my Lamb’s tender care, the Lamb of God slain in my place.
But in this week’s incessant battles, God has fueled my emboldened strength and endurance for continued war by reminding me:
I am not a victim! I am not a prisoner to anyone or anything in this war!
I belong to the LORD, Christ Jesus, body, mind, soul!
He has already conquered every manner of sin and evil! This exhausting week, He’s reminded me that He is MY Lion of Judah, MY King of kings, and MY Lord of lords!
A praise interruption has been His triumphant victory song of courage, amidst the war! Make me a captive to only You, LORD, for I belong to You! Another of George’s hymns is God’s gift to me!
I belong to the Lord of lords and King of kings, risen and reigning!
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful (Rev. 17:14 ESV).
Make me a captive, Lord,
and then I shall be free;
force me to render up my sword,
and I shall conqueror be!
(“Make Me a Captive, Lord,” Matheson, G., 1890)
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world (Jn. 16:33 ESV, emphasis added).
I sink in life’s alarms
when by myself I stand;
imprison me within Thine arms,
and strong shall be my hand.
I belong to the Lord of matchless love
My heart is weak and poor
until it Master find…
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Gal. 2:20 ESV).
[my heart] has no spring of action sure –
it varies with the wind;
it cannot freely move
till Thou hast wrought its chain…
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 Jn. 4:4 ESV)!
enslave it with Thy matchless love,
and deathless it shall reign!
I am so weak, but I belong to the God of love, whose Spirit is within me to endure suffering victoriously, conformed to the image of Christ Jesus
My power is faint and low
till I have learned to serve…
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21 ESV).
It wants the needed fire to glow,
It wants the breeze to nerve;
It cannot drive the world
until itself be driven.
Its flag can only be unfurled
when Thou shalt breathe from heaven.
You are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one (1 Jn. 2:14 ESV).
I belong to the reigning Lord of life, to Whom I humbly bow and on Whom I completely lean as I trust Him in this war
My will is not my own
till Thou hast made it Thine…
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death (Rev. 12:11 ESV).
if it would reach a monarch’s throne,
[my will] must its crown resign…
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith (1 Jn. 5:4 ESV).
it only stands unbent,
amid the clashing strife…
when on Thy bosom I have leaned,
and found in Thee its life.
Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong (1 Cor. 16:13 ESV).
Victory songs of praise to our Lord, the conquering King!
Being courageous and strong in ongoing and new suffering battles has felt impossible lately. While I’m asking Him for the battles to end, God has couraged-into me with this week’s playlist of praise to the One who has victoriously overcome sin and its resulting sufferings!
This IS His victory, enduring anything on earth…as One who belongs to the LORD, Christ Jesus!
For the battles and their outcomes truly do belong to the Lord… because we belong to the Lord! Glory to God alone!
I can’t wait to share it with you, sister in Christ!
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