Years ago in back and forth communications with friends I’d close my emails or cards with,
“Firmly in His Grip.”
I have no idea where it came from but I know it stemmed from a desire to proclaim my faith, to identify myself as a Christian woman, to put myself figuratively under the wing of my Lord.
Today I sign off with “Blessings” or “Be Blessed” a wish for whoever it is I’m corresponding with to feel covered by the good things of God.
This week I surprised myself by ending a note to a new friend with Firmly in His Grip and her response closed with,
“In His Grip<- now that’s something else we need to talk about.”
My first thought was, had I written something wrong? I’m in a new faith community and very aware of my liturgy strong background which is different to many of the other church members.
I can’t quote the scriptures and back up my thoughts with chapter and verse…but my ideas are still solid, I don’t offer ‘proofs’ from the Word but my counsel and understanding are rooted on the rock; they have been ingrained on my heart with decades of bible reading and meditation, church going and journalling, teaching and mentoring – and just a little bit of memorisation.
Personally I find putting my faith in my own words is more powerful than just spouting scripture, but I recognise that biblical support is affirming. Perhaps I need to do that more, or at least employ quotes when writing as I did in my English Literature classes.
Curious as to why I’d chosen ‘In His Grip’ as a closing all those years ago I looked up the sentence and found a few verses that validated its use as an appropriate closing statement.
Of course, I thought, even though I may have been twenty years younger, I have never used words lightly.
In His Grip is a strong and appropriate surrender.
It suggests that God has a firm hold on me; if you’ve ever seen your Hubs work with a vice…
Yes! That kind of unrelenting hold.
In John’s Gospel Christ spells out just how firmly His and His Father’s grips are,
“No-one will snatch them from my hand…and no-one can snatch them from my Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” (John 10:28-29)
Paul is proof of this truth.
Christ went after him on the road to Damascus and completely turned his life upside down, gained his attention and held him tightly until he had fully grasped the message – the good news of salvation – and then sent him off to spread the news to the gentiles.
On reading Paul’s letters I am always amazed at just how well He got the Godhead of Christ.
He didn’t have the luxury of going back into the history books of his time to help him understand who this Jesus is…
…Paul got it straight from the source, no interpretation, no bandying of ideas, no exchanges of wisdom, just the straightforward, honest to God Truth; and He fully understood all its ramifications.
“I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.” (Philippians 3:12)
And listen up all of you whom Christ has loved first…and that’s all of us…
Once Christ has laid hold, there is nothing that can make Him let go.
“Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39)
Good News?
The Best!
And so I remain,
Firmly in His Grip.
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
No comments so far!
2022-03-07 21:26:17
Very nice and I too hope I am firmly in his grip. I feel I’m held on tightly!
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