O Jesus, make Thyself to me,
A living bright reality:
More present to faith’s vision keen,
Than any outward object seen:
More dear, more intimately rich,
Than e’en the sweetest earthly tie.
This little poem was written on the back of an envelope from a note someone sent me in college, and it has stayed with me all these years. I wasn’t sure of the author, but a quick search indicates this was from a hymn by Charlotte Elliott, the author of the more well-known hymn “Just As I Am.”
These words have been on my heart lately, for myself, my family, my church, and Christianity in general — that our Christianity would truly be not just doctrine, though that is vitally important; not just “what we believe” or “what we do” (or don’t do), but rather, as we so often say, a vital and living relationship with a real, living Christ. Not just praying before meals and during crises, but keeping in touch with Him through the whole day. Not just dragging ourselves to church and through some semblance of devotions, but gaining in His Word what we vitally need more than food. Not just a vague appreciation for an escape from hell, but an active, consuming love that energizes a life spent doing His will out of love rather than duty. A heart that longs after Him.
May it be so.
Stray Thoughts 
Amen to that!
Living our beliefs — I have been having this conversation with myself lately because it used to be much easier to live what I believe. I few tests and trails and I seem to have posted barbed-wire around my heart.
Well said. I’m right there with you.
Very nice my friend. I enjoyed reading this and I do believe in living a bright reality 🙂
I love that, Barbara – I need more of the bright and living reality of the Lord in my life.
As someone who is NOT good with keeping up with “friendships” I find this to be probably the hardest part of my faith. I really really have to WORK to keep up with Jesus on a daily basis. I often tend to think “awww… He knOws my heart! He knOws I love him!” True. Sometimes HE knows it better than I do! Which is WHY I need to keep up with it. I will pat myself on the back and say I am BETTER at keeping up my friendship with HIM than with anyone else… but that still leaves me a LOT of leeway! I definitely need to work on it more. And lately… well… let’s just say I’m praying for self-control a lot right now — but I want HIS help with it! I don’t really want “self” control — I want to behave better – with HIS help! I could really use an extra dose of ALL the fruits right now….
I love what you have said. Encouraged to draw closer and closer to him. It’s so much easier when we take religion out of the equation!