O for a closer walk with God!

I came across this wonderful hymn by William Cowper (1772) that moved me greatly, especially stanza's 4-5. I hope it blesses you as it did me.O for a closer walk with God,A calm and heavenly frame,A light to shine upon the roadThat leads me to the Lamb!Where is the blessedness I knew,When first I saw the Lord?Where is the soul refreshing viewOf Jesus and His Word?What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!How sweet their memory still!But they have left an aching voidThe world can never fill.Return, O holy Dove, return,Sweet messenger of rest!I hate the sins that made Thee mournAnd drove Thee from my breast.The dearest idol I have known,Whate’er that idol beHelp me to tear it from Thy throne,And worship only Thee.So shall my walk be close with God,Calm and serene my frame;So purer light shall mark the roadThat leads me to the Lamb.

Jimmy, thanks for this. The words are so....peaceful and satisfying. Isn't it neat to think of all the people down through the ages who have desired so close a walk with Him- and that it still continues.I was just thinking about this today. About how there are not many- even christians who have that passion, that desire to just give God their all and pursue Him with everything. Yet I am sure it has always been like that. You always have your nominal but sincere christians ( I guess God has a plan for them) and then you have ones who are just "wrecked on God". Why so few? And are the others who are not 'wrecked on God' wrong?many thoughts...In Him, Chanin

Thanks very much for the hymn, very thought-provoking.What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!How sweet their memory still!But they have left an aching voidThe world can never fill.It's interesting how non-Christians can get to a point where they're (to the best of their knowledge) quite happy and content to live without Christ, but once one becomes an "on-fire" (pick your term) Christian, one can never go back and enjoy the world in anywhere near the same way. "To whom shall we flee, O Lord?"The dearest idol I have known,Whate’er that idol beHelp me to tear it from Thy throne,And worship only Thee.That's just golden, I intend to remember it so long as I can.Cowper (as far as I know, from a John Piper book) had what many today would call severe depression, and I think there were even suicide attempts. A poignant reminder of how dearly we need and must rely upon the grace of God. "There, but for the grace of God, goeth I." ...You always have your nominal but sincere christians ( I guess God has a plan for them) and then you have ones who are just "wrecked on God". Why so few? And are the others who are not 'wrecked on God' wrong?I'm one of those people who has difficulty understanding "it is not good for man to be alone," I think "what would have been so bad for Adam and God to be in fellowship for eternity with no other humans around?," and I tend not to engage in anything significant unless I think it's of God, so I suppose I fall in the 'wrecked on God' category. I wonder if I haven't gone too far, though, since I have difficulty embracing all of God's plan (those parts involving others than God and myself). The question "how then shall we live?" comes to mind, although as someone at church mentioned, perhaps the better question is "who then shall we be?" to which the obvious answer is "Christ."

Keith,I know what you mean. I used to be very alone but now the Lord has brought me through some things lately where I am seeing that I need to "share" this wrecked-ness with others. Though they may or may not recieve it- I know that many are fascinated by it. They kind of just look at you and think "i don't know how you do that"- yet it is not our doing. God is doing it. He is calling us to be this way. We have no choice, except to turn away completely.Are some chosen to have a passion for Him like us or are all christians supposed to have this?I have been trying to get over this thing that people who are not wrecked on God are below me. They may be doing everything they know at this time to do- doing as much as what's been revealed to them.We are responsible for what's revealed to us. We are also held more accountable. Sticky situation. I am learning here though. I am seeing how God wants me to see others- even christians who aren't chasing after Him like a wildman. He loves them and desires that they pursue Him. Can I be part of getting them "lit up"? If God allows. :-) In Him, Chanin

They kind of just look at you and think "i don't know how you do that"- yet it is not our doing. God is doing it....I have been trying to get over this thing that people who are not wrecked on God are below me.These two are linked: even if we are living "better" Christian lives (which is difficult to determine even with much more knowledge than we have), it is only by the grace of God, that none may boast. Strictly speaking, someone who's "barely Christian" (if such a thing is possible) may actually be "below" you in that you're farther along than they are, but only because God has done more in you than He has in them. "There, but for the grace of God, goeth I." I might propose another restatement of that, "Here, given the grace of God, they would come." Are some chosen to have a passion for Him like us or are all christians supposed to have this?Certain people are chosen for certain ministries, not everyone is to be a pastor, evangelist (in the preaching sense), father, mother, etc... are any ministries inherently more conducive to being "close to the Lord?" I don't think so, and I think Wilkerson's sermon on "Full Time Ministry" is helpful here.So I would say that all Christians are supposed to be utterly "ruined" by the Lord, meaning that they should be absolutely and solely driven by love for Him. He is to be #1 priority, if something else is in accordance with what He desires for us, then it may stay, otherwise it's taking a hike. No one who even looks back is fit for the kingdom.Nonetheless, I think there is some validity to the idea that we are at different stages of growth in the Christian life. 100% commitment may look different for an American businessman who's been a Christian for 6 months and an evangelist to the Muslim world who's been a Christian for 30 years despite numerous attempts on his life. Part of it is what God has dealt with them on, I don't think He tries to pull all the off-color feathers at once.We are responsible for what's revealed to us. We are also held more accountable.Sobering, no?He loves them and desires that they pursue Him. Can I be part of getting them "lit up"? If God allows.I think it was either Ray Comfort or Ray Comfort quoting someone else as saying that we should be "spiritual arsonists" :)"Wrecked on God" brings to mind an interesting view on:Luke 20:18Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Nonetheless, I think there is some validity to the idea that we are at different stages of growth in the Christian life. 100% commitment may look different for an American businessman who's been a Christian for 6 months and an evangelist to the Muslim world who's been a Christian for 30 years despite numerous attempts on his life.A good indication as to the state of a person is the attitude of the person in regards to the word and prayer. Also in the softness of their heart.Zeke

And are the others who are not 'wrecked on God' wrong?Perhaps the zeal of some is not as evident as it is in others. However, we must all be wrecked on God. Deut 6:4-5 tells us that we must summon everything that we are and pour it out in devotion to God. I believe if we give anything less on this greatest of all commandments, then we are backslidden. For Philippians 2 teaches us that God is at work in us, to will and to do what He desires for our life. If we are not letting Him have His way in our lives, we have grieved the Holy Spirit. God will have none in your life who is competition for affection due only to Him. He is a jealous God. This hymn I think is especially good for the backslider, for they need to come to the place where they "hate the sins that made Thee mourn, and drove Thee from my breast." They need to come to the place where they tear down any idols that might be sitting in the place of God.

Zeke wrote: A good indication as to the state of a person is the attitude of the person in regards to the word and prayer. Also in the softness of their heart.Even moreso than that is their love toward the brethren. Even if I am soaking in the word and praying without ceasing with a soft and tender heart, if I have not love, I am nothing.