One of the greatest modern hymns is “In Christ Alone” written by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty in 2001. Verse 4 begins, “No guilt in life, no fear in death—this is the pow’r of Christ in me.” Those words bring tears to my eyes each time I hear them. How could it be: when I remember who I am? Each step of the way, I must lay aside my own self to focus on Him. For only through the power of Christ in me can I say, “no guilt in life.” I cannot imagine my life without the power God through the Holy Spirit provides me. And this only because of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Sustaining me as my guide in Life and in Death. Oh, yes and no fear in death for He is the one to guide me there as well. What an amazing thought!
David wrote:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23; 3-4 KJV
He guides me in paths of righteousness for HIS Name’s Sake, His Glory. I need to never forget that. I am the benefactor of His Grace, His Love, His Provision, His Joy, and His Ultimate Sacrifice to save me. Yet, the paths of righteousness through which He guides me are to shine His Glory through me to a dying world in need of Him. It is HIS Righteousness He desires to shine through me as He does and allows whatever it takes to transform my heart into one like His.
Our Guide in Life and in Death—God Desires True Worship
The children of Israel protested to God, saying: “Have you not seen how we are fasting and serving you?”
Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Isaiah 58: 3 KJV
So much like each of us. We want to think that we are seeking Him when in truth even that we can only do when we surround ourselves completely to His will and guidance. As this song written by Aaron Keys says:
“Not what my hands have done can save my guilty soul
Not what my toiling flesh has borne can make my spirit whole
Not what I feel or do can give me peace with God
Not all my prayers and sighs and tears can bear my awful load
These guilty hands are raised, filthy rags are all I bring
And I have come to hide beneath your wings
These holy hands are raised, Washed in the fountain of your grace
And now I wear your righteousness
Thy work alone oh Christ can ease this weight of sin
Thy blood alone, oh Lamb of God, can give me peace within
Thy Love to me, oh God, not mine oh Lord to Thee
Can rid me of this dark unrest and set my Spirit free” 1
1 Keyes, Aaron: “Not What My Hands Have Done”. https://www.letras.com/aaron-keyes/1264536/ Accessed 6/8/2025
I Need His Guide in Life and Death Transforming me
Only He can transform my heart to worship Him fully. I need Him to Guide me in life and death. Without that I am lost. But the truth is He is there within me. He has been there ever since the day I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Oh, so many times I, like the Israelites wanted to say, “I do all this for you.” But the truth is, that is when I get caught in my pride. Was it not pride that was the downfall of Satan? And did not Eve sin due to her pride and desire to be like God? Adam blatantly disobeyed God after Eve was deceived, wanting to fix things his own way. Yet, when I fall into self-pride. His rod of correction is the comfort to bring me back into the tenderness of His love. Restoring my joy in Him.
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Isaiah 58:6-7 KJV
When reaching out to help others, never forget thine own flesh which is weak. How easy it is to look at others and think we are better than they? Or to think, God could never forgive them. That is when I must remember, He forgave me—wretch that I am without Him. The darkest recesses of my heart, He saw and loved me. while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us Romans 5:8.
What Does He Promise When We Allow Him to Guide in Life and Death?
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily and thy righteousness shall go before thee. The glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.
Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day: And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. Isaiah 58:8-11 KJV
Oh, that He be ever before me and behind me, surrounding my every thought, word, and deed! That is my prayer every day. Let His Word so penetrate my mind, taking captive ever thought.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Corinthians 10: 3-6 KJV
Let God Be My Guide in Life and Death
And when I come to die, Give me Jesus2
2Afro-American Hymn, public domain https://hymnary.org/text/in_the_morning_when_i_rise_in_the_morn
That is my cry as well. Let me be able to say, as Paul—”I have finished the race” God has promised to guide me in death as well as life. On that I am assured. We do not know when He will call us home. Nor if I will remain until the rapture; but, I do know He will be my guide in life and death. Not because of anything I have done; but, because of the miraculous saving Grace purchased on the cross by Jesus Christ.
We look around us and cry out, “Come, Lord Jesus”. Yet, He is not slow in His response. He will come at His perfect time. Until then, let us be faithful. My prayer in life or death to shine forth His love, His grace, and His glory. For that I must die to self and let Him shine through me. And when He calls me home, I pray my death be such as to proclaim His name to all around me. That I be faithful to the end. That I trust into His hands.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude1:24-25
No matter what tomorrow brings, this I know as did Habakkuk
Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. Habakkuk 3:17-19
So, How Do We Trust God to Guide in Life and Death?
- Trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Repent of your sin, believing He is the Son of God who died and rose again to pay the price for your sin.
- Read His Word—devour it as one starved sits down to a meal.
- Pray to Him—daily, alone and throughout the day. Let Him be the constant companion your mind reaches out to. The brain thinks continually—usually talking nonsense to one’s self. Why not spend that time talking with Him. He is there waiting to hear your voice. If nothing else to say, sing songs of praise to Him in your heart and mind.
- Surrender to His Will—Knowing that He IS Omnipotent, Omniscient. The All Wise God who has promised only to reward those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 defines faith. without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
- Never forget ALL THINGS work together for good for those who know Him and are called according to His purpose. Why? Because even what we think are bad, He is using to transform us one glory at a time into the likeness of Jesus Christ. WHATEVER IT TAKES, I want a heart like His. we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30
All of this begins with #1. Once you realize the truth of what He has done for you, His Love so overwhelming results in you loving Him so much you want to be with Him and to do His will. Knowing He will guide in life and death, so that you might know and experience His love, His joy, and His eternal life.
I Am in Christ, All I Am Not Alone
Oh, Father dear, help me to know
The truth of who I am
In Christ, You did on me bestow
All that I need down here below
That by my life I then might show
Your Spirits flame set bright Aglow
By Jesus Christ, the precious lamb
That You would take my wretched heart
So, broken by my sin
And through your Grace you did impart
Your righteousness to ne’er depart
Because in Christ, a brand-new start
That as your child, your dear sweetheart
Your spirit dwells within
Endowing me with all Your power
The same that rose Christ from the dead
By Grace through faith, on me did shower
The strength to stand firm like a tower
And from life’s fears to never cower
Because in Christ You did empower
Me to walk wherever led
So as in Christ I lean into
Abiding in His arms
I come to know that which You knew
My heart transformed by You
You alone will see me through
Each day by grace my heart renew
While learning of Your charms
I am Your Blessed, Beloved Child
Redeemed by Grace Alone
You looked upon my heart so wild
Who by this world had been beguiled!
Upon this broken one you smiled
With Patience, Mercy Oh so mild
You chose me as Your own
So, Help me Lord to comprehend
The depth and breadth of love divine
This broken heart, you chose to mend
Before the world to then defend
That I might find in You a friend
Although, my Lord on knee I bend
To give you all I thought was mine
So, take my heart and use it Lord
However, you desire
That I might then with one accord
Submit my will while marching toward
Your presence as my one reward
With truth my only sword
Your Love my impassioned fire
I am in Christ, all I was not
Before He called my name
For in my sin, I dare not rot
As would have been the Devil’s plot
For Christ did die, my freedom bought
And then by grace my heart He sought
How could I ever be the same?
With God my guide in life and death, then as Paul let me say,
According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. Philippians 1: 20-26 KJV
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:16-21
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2025
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Please note: This Post only has quotes from the KJV Bible.
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