Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 081 Christ Alone

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast
Episode #081 – Christ Alone

Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to grow in Jesus together. I am blessed to be back with you to discuss more ways to live with eternal perspective.

Do you love music? I have found it to be such a universal way for people to connect and a unique method for engaging emotions and memories. When my youngest came home from China at nine years old, music was one of the ways we connected with her. After all, music and smiles are universal.

I enjoy catching my youngest daughter singing. It’s not often that she actually sings aloud for anyone to hear. I do suspect, however, that if she had been living with us since she was a baby, she would most likely be involved in musical theater and would be singing for everyone to hear. Because she is deaf in one ear and almost completely deaf in the other ear, plus English has only been acquired over the last few years and it is her second language, she has a hard time understanding song lyrics and the words are said so quickly during a song that she has insufficient time to process what anyone is saying.

When I do catch her singing, I try not to make a big deal out of it because that just makes her immediately stop with embarrassment. Like her sweet disposition, her voice is pleasant, and she carries a tune well. My girl often listens to Christian music, both classics and contemporary songs and sometimes recommends music for me to listen to.

One of the songs we’ve heard together inspired me to include the beautiful lyrics in this podcast. When I listen to Christian music with my daughter I try to explain the words and meanings of songs. It has deepened her walk with Christ in new ways. As she matures her relationship with God through Jesus, it has also strengthened our bond with each other. There is no better way to grow together than bonding with the Lord.

Listen as I read the lyrics for “In Christ Alone.” Music and lyrics are by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty.

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine –
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand:
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

Strength, foundation, light, love, peace, comfort, sacrifice, sinlessness, resurrection, freedom, truth, promise, eternity, and scriptural truths all found in one song.

Music carries an influential power over our emotions, thoughts, beliefs, attractions, attitude, and actions. What we allow to influence our life and/or the life of family members, especially children should be considered very carefully.

Just as the lyrics from “In Christ Alone” cover a wide variety of topics, the music we listen to affects us in a multitude of ways. Consider using music as a way to draw nearer to God, and allow Him to draw nearer to you.

1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

I know that no imagination can come close to what God has prepared for those of us who love Him, but I still enjoy thinking about how beautiful heaven will be. I like to think that perhaps the rustle of the angel wings will usher the magnificent chords of instruments or sound like sweet and soulful music from the most clear and beautiful voices we will ever hear. Let music you listen to on earth set the tone to prepare yourself and your family for God.

Podcasts can also be an extremely beneficial way to grow our walk with the Lord. I have several I listen to regularly and I am always left feeling encouraged, strengthened, and renewed in my Christian walk after listening to Bible verses, testimonies, and encouragement from hearing the experiences of others as they share how God has worked in their life.

During the month of August, I am going to list several “Live With Eternal Perspective” podcast episodes that will help us to live with the purposed intention of drawing nearer to the Lord. As I will be busy preparing for our new school year to begin, and because we have several new listeners, I would like to use this time to remind others of previous episodes that may offer new insight into a closer walk with Jesus.
Have you listened to any of the following episodes yet?

21 – Peace That Passes Understanding
26 – Mind Fixed for Eternity
30 – Are You Wearing His Armor?
46 – Maturing Character Like Christ

It is said that some of the top questions Christians ask are in these areas:

How to better trust God
How to find guidance in what God desires them to do
How to understand the Bible more clearly
How to keep Jesus as the center of their life
How to control affections and be more thankful
How to avoid sin
How to be more Christ-like
How to support God’s work
How to share the gospel
How to connect deeply with other Christians

I hope that during the month of August, several of these questions will be answered through the podcast episodes I suggest. There is absolutely nothing better we can commit our life to than living in expectation of seeing Jesus face to face and preparing ourselves for Him. As Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright said in one of my recent podcast episodes, “We can’t anything with us when we leave this world, except for other people.” Set your heart to know, love, and obey Jesus here more and more with each passing moment and bring as many people as you can to know, love, and obey Him with joyful hearts, as well.

Father God, may you be exalted as the center and authority of our lives. Help us to realize that Your will is the best path for my life and help us to welcome You and Your ways. Thank you for the provisions and promises you give us daily. Help us to become more like You in every way, even when it hurts or is embarrassing. You carry the power and the mercy we need. Thank you that through Jesus we are never without You. In Your precious name we pray. Amen.

Thank you for listening to this episode. I invite you to visit terrihitt.com to access additional podcast episodes housed in one convenient location, read blog posts, transcripts, and access additional resources designed to mature your walk with Jesus through an eternal perspective and encourage you to raise or influence children to choose Christ over culture as You rely on God to direct your steps because you are in love with Him.

I pray this podcast draws you nearer to the Lord and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.