Day 30 – March 24, 2010
Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews ll:1)
As a young child of seven, living in the small community of Woodlawn, VA, I usually spent part of each
Sunday morning service asleep on my mother’s ample lap. But one Sunday was a little different. The
pianist for the little Forest Oak Christian Church was absent, and the minister asked if anyone from the
congregation could play the piano. My parents knew that I could play a few hymns from memory, so here
I go, walking hesitantly up the aisle. With one little hand, I began. One note, two notes, What a Friend
We Have in Jesus. I’m sure the beginning notes were very soft, but as I muddled through and the voices
began to join in, my confidence built. By the time I reached the end of the first line and began to play it
again (I only knew 2 lines of the first verse), everyone joined in. It was great. You know, Jesus was my
friend that day because I know I didn’t make the music – I just touched the notes, and the Holy Spirit
filled the church with a glorious sound.
I’m much older now and can even play the piano with both hands. But when I play or sing, it isn’t I who
is making the music. It’s my friend, Jesus. So I may be singing Hark! The Herald Angels Sing or the
entire Mass in G by Schubert. His Holy Spirit is still the one guiding my voice or moving my hands. And
I like to think that my little attempt at the one-handed What a Friend We Have in Jesus sounds just as
sweet to God’s ear.
No matter my burdens or my cares, I have the blessed assurance that Jesus is mine. And as the song goes,
“praising my Savior all the day long, this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day
long.” You have the assurance that He is yours as well. All you have to do is have faith – His love will be
there to meet you more than half-way. You see, He’s been waiting for you all along the way!
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your steadfast love, your blessed assurance, and your faithful
promise that as long as we put you first in our lives, we will be blessed and others will receive a blessing
through us. For it is in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, that we pray. Amen.
Submitted by: Carolyn Webb, Member of Holston Conference UMC
