Leaning On The Everlasting Arms

What A Joy Divine

Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?
I awakened you under the apple tree. There your mother brought you forth; there she who bore you brought you forth.
[Song of Songs 8:5 NKJV]

Yesterday we saw that leaning on the arm of the Beloved is an important part of our growing faith - a submission to Jesus Christ with our whole heart. This is a fine thought, but difficult to realise in practise. We tend to want a ‘How to ...’ manual, but in this case there isn’t one.

With our current lockdown, and Gill’s broken ankle, I have been trying to do more of the cooking. Even as I write this I can hear Gill saying “More of the cooking? Let’s say ‘trying to cook’.”

Despite having a mother who was a marvellous cook, and a wife who seems to be able to create amazing meals when to my eye there is nothing in the fridge, I become immobilised when faced with preparing anything beyond cheese on toast or a marmalade sandwich. I need a recipe - a list of ingredients, a method and have everything pre-prepared to hand - and even then it feels like I am painting the Forth Bridge. Failing this, I need to rely on Gill’s expertise.

It is the same when it comes to so many other aspects of life. You may know that Gill and I went to a retreat at Ellel Scotland near Huntly in Aberdeenshire, where I learnt that I rely too much on my own strength instead of giving it to the Lord. The result for me was anxiety.

Knowing this and believing for my deliverance in this area, has been a feeling of closer relationship with The Lord. I still have to ‘walk it out’ daily until it becomes ingrained, but He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. [1 Thessalonians 5:24 NKJV]

Obviously, today’s song has to be ‘Leaning on the Everlasting Arms’. My favourite version is by Kenny Rogers, sung in a meditative way, but I could not find a video of that. This version, at one of Bill and Gloria Gaither’s Gatherings, is a fine traditional interpretation. May it bless you as much as it does me.

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“Leaning On The Everlasting Arms” - Buddy Greene and the Gaither Gathering

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OSWALD CHAMBERS - RUN TODAY’S RACE
Wednesday 27th May 2020
ChrIstianity means staking ourselves on the honour of Jesus. His honour means that He will see us through time, death and eternity.

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... thanks to Stan for finding what I could not. Here is the Kenny Rogers version of 'Leaning On The Everlasting Arms' ...

LEANING ON THE EVERLASTING ARMS

What a fellowship, what a joy divine
Leaning on the everlasting arms
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine
Leaning on the everlasting arms

Leaning, leaning
Safe and secure from all alarms
Leaning, leaning
Leaning on the everlasting arms

What have I to dread, what have I to fear
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near
Leaning on the everlasting arms

Leaning, leaning
Safe and secure from all alarms
Leaning, leaning
Leaning on the everlasting arms

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Traditional