EC Week 17-Giving Your Life to Jesus-Indwelling Spirit

Ever Closer Episode 97: Runaway Home

Jesus’ words in Luke 9:23-25 reveal a profound paradox: to truly find life, we must be willing to lose it for His sake. We are not alone in that process. After Jesus died and rose again and then ascended to heaven to prepare a place for us, he sent God the Spirit to dwell within believers. The Holy Spirit comforts, guides, trains, and empowers us to follow Jesus. This week’s theme centers on the Holy Spirit’s work in believers as we learn to confess our wrongdoing and surrender our self-centered pursuits. Through songs that explore the emptiness of life apart from God and the mercy He offers to runaways, we discover that authentic fulfillment comes only through submission to Jesus, not through striving to save ourselves.

Here is today’s song:

Runaway Home
God sees and understands the runaway and the hopeless. He lovingly calls them to find true life and a forever home by trusting and obeying him.

(Verse 1)
In the desert of your heartache, where the sands of sorrow blow
I’ve come to find you, wandering child, lost with no where to go.
From the shadows of your past, to the future yet unknown
I see you, precious one, you’re never alone.

(Chorus)
I am the God who sees you, I know your every tear.
I’ve loved you from the beginning, cast aside your fear.
Take my hand, I’ll lead you to waters cool and clear.
Trust in me, obey my voice, find hope in drawing near.

(Verse 2)
You’ve run from pain and conflict, tried to hide from all your shame
But I know both the hurts you’ve felt, and how you share the blame
I’ve suffered the world’s evil, felt your sin’s deadly sting
But I have overcome and can help you do the same.

(Chorus)
I am the God who sees you, I know your every tear.
I’ve loved you from the beginning, cast aside your fear.
Take my hand, I’ll lead you to waters cool and clear.
Trust in me, obey my voice, find hope in drawing near.

(Bridge)
I’ve borne the weight of all your sin
Endured the cross, your soul to win.
My love runs deeper than your pain
Let me restore you from within.

(Verse 3)
The path to real life is narrow, but I am the way.
Take up your cross, deny yourself, and follow me each day.
With every step of faith you take, my blessings will abound.
Run with me and overcome. Receive salvation’s crown.

(Chorus)
I am the God who sees you, I know your every tear.
I’ve loved you from the beginning, cast aside your fear.
Take my hand, I’ll lead you to waters cool and clear.
Trust in me, obey my voice, find hope in drawing near.

Ever Closer Episode 98: Cornerstone

Build your life on Jesus, the Cornerstone, or be crushed from rejecting him for he is the only way to be saved. (Inspired by Jesus’ parable of the tenants in Luke 20:9-19).

(Verse 1)
A cornerstone set in place
First stone laid with careful hands
Guides each wall with perfect grace
Foundation for what will stand.

(Verse 2)
Jesus is that living stone
The one on which life is built.
Make him Lord upon your throne.
His blood for your sins was spilt.

(Chorus)
One choice shapes your destiny
Come to know the Giver of life.
Believe in Jesus and be saved,
Reject him and suffer demise.

(Verse 3)
Pride and wealth and status call
Control feels like solid ground
But without God your ways will fail
They are shifting sand, unsound.

(Verse 4)
By faith build your life on him
Watch your walls rise true and straight
Don’t let doubts your vision dim
Revel in God’s amazing grace.

(Bridge)
The stone the builders cast aside
Has become the cornerstone
Humble hearts that in him hide
Find new life in him alone
But those who stumble due to pride
Will be crushed by judgment’s weight
Real life in Jesus, if denied
Leads to a destructive fate.

(Chorus)
One choice shapes your destiny
Come to know the Giver of life.
Believe in Jesus and be saved,
Reject him and suffer demise.

(Outro)
What better life awaits your soul
When Jesus your foundation forms
Choose the Rock that breaks sin’s hold
And to his image be transformed.

Ever Closer Episode 99: Make Me New

A prayer to turn from my ways and turn to God by faith, knowing that he alone can forgive me, save me, and restore me. (Inspired by Psalm 51).

(Verse 1)
Broken and at fault, I come to you.
I’ve strayed so far, show me what is true.
O God, create in me a heart that’s clean.
Forgive my sins, let your grace redeem.

(Chorus)
In your grace, I find the strength to turn.
In turning to you, salvation I learn.
Through saving grace, transformation starts
To mirror your Son, with all my heart.

(Verse 2)
Mold me, Lord, to glorify your name.
Change my heart, let your love reclaim.
Take my past, my pain, my deepest fears.
Turn my weakness into strength that perseveres.
Complete the work that you’ve begun in me.
Not my will, but yours, eternally.

(Bridge)
Shape me, Lord, to reflect your light
Loving others with grace, standing for what’s right.
Draw me close, guide me through each day
To learn and live in your perfect way.

(Verse 3)
Apart from you, I am but dust
So walking with you, I place my trust.
Thank you, God, for your tender care
I feel your presence; you’re answering my prayer.

(Chorus)
In your grace, I find the strength to turn.
In turning to you, salvation I learn.
Through saving grace, transformation starts
To mirror your Son, with all my heart

(Outro)
Thank you, Lord, for making me new
Helping me daily to become like you.

Ever Closer Episode 100: Showers of Mercy

“If we confess our sins, he (God) is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

(Verse 1)
Heavenly Father, hear my plea.
Have mercy on this wayward soul
For I have sinned and fallen short.
Your perfect plan, I’ve left untold.

(Verse 2)
When I am prone to wander far
Turn my feet toward home, I pray.
When darkness calls, fill me with light
Guide me back to your bright way.

(Verse 3)
Each dawn brings new opportunity
To draw closer to your side.
Empower me to shine for you
In goodness, love, and truth abide.

(Chorus)
Like rain on parched and thirsty ground
Your forgiveness washes clean.
Unrighteousness stripped away.
By grace grow my soul complete.

(Bridge)
Thank you, God, for loving me
Even when I stumble and fall.
Raise me up to walk with you
To share your love with one and all.

(Verse 4)
I long to live for you alone
Not for myself, but for your glory.
When I am weak, be my strength
Help me live your greater story.

(Chorus)
Like rain on parched and thirsty ground
Your forgiveness washes clean.
Unrighteousness stripped away.
By grace grow my soul complete.

(Outro)
Thank you, God, for loving me
Even when I stumble and fall.
Raise me up to walk with you
To share your love with one and all.

Ever Closer Episode 101: Better Than Before

Although Jesus is no longer walking among people on earth, he sent his Spirit to live in believers and to continue his saving ministry. After he prepares a place for us, he will return to gather all believers to be with him forever.

(Verse 1)
Though teardrops fell when Jesus had to go,
His promise rings like bells through our sorrow—
“I’ll prepare a place. Your forever home to be,
Where you’ll reign with me for eternity.”

(Verse 2)
You walked among us, touched our wounded hearts,
But only reached the shores of Galilee.
Through us your Spirit expands your work
To love and save the lost, from sea to sea.

(Chorus)
It’s better, deeper, richer than before—
Not walking beside us, but alive within!
What we lack your Spirit fills and restores,
Transforming us with life that transcends.

(Verse 3)
You said we’d do the greater works you planned,
Not through one body treading dusty roads,
But Spirit-fire spreading through every land,
Fueling what’s right and burning what’s wrong.

(Verse 4)
The Advocate you promised, now has come,
Teaching truths our minds could not conceive,
Forging frozen hearts into a blazing sun,
Empowering all who yield and believe.

(Chorus)
It’s better, deeper, richer than before—
Not walking beside us, but alive within!
What we lack your Spirit fills and restores,
Transforming us with life that transcends.

(Bridge)
When we can’t find the words to pray,
Your Spirit states what hearts can’t say.
Sealing us with Heaven’s mark,
Light exploding through the dark!
Comfort flows like healing streams,
Your wisdom guides, your truth sets free.
Fruit of love grows from your vine—
Human vessels, power divine!

(Verse 5)
So though we miss your footsteps in the sand,
Your Helper satisfies our thirsty souls.
You’re coming back to take us by the hand,
But till that day, your Spirit makes us whole.

(Chorus)
It’s better, deeper, richer than before—
Not walking beside us, but alive within!
What we lack your Spirit fills and restores,
Transforming us with life that transcends.

Ever Closer Episode 102: Reflection for Week 17

Paradoxically victory in the Christian life comes from surrender. By faith yield your thoughts, desires, dreams, strength, effort, and will to the work of the Holy Spirit transforming you to become like Jesus.

Our scripture focus this week is Luke 9:23-25 where Jesus declares the cost of discipleship. “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self.”

Here are three areas for reflection:

1. Jesus asked, “what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?” In what ways, if any, does the pursuit of worldly gain, comfort, or security hinder your relationship with God?

2. The songs emphasize that “striving to fulfill yourself doesn’t work” but “submitting to God” brings abundant life, and that God “sees and understands the runaway and hopeless.” How does confession create space for the Holy Spirit to work in you, transforming your striving and running into surrender and rest in God’s love?

3. The song “Make Me New” is described as “a prayer to turn from my ways and turn to God by faith.” How can regular confession become not just admission of failure but an active turning toward God, allowing his Spirit to make you genuinely new from the inside out?