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About Numbered Notation

Numbered Notation (also called Jianpu, 简谱) writes each melody note as a number from 1 to 7 instead of a note on a staff. The number shows the note's position in the song's scale -- not its exact pitch -- so the same tune looks identical no matter what key it's sung in.

Within one octave, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 correspond to the familiar do re mi fa sol la ti. A dot above a number raises it an octave higher; a dot below lowers it an octave lower -- no dot means the middle, as-written octave.

A plain number lasts one beat. A dash (-) right after a number holds that same note for one more beat. A line underneath a number shortens it instead -- one line is half a beat, two lines a quarter of a beat. A 0 is a rest: silence for one beat.

The label at the top of the sheet, like "1=C" or "1=Ab", shows which pitch scale degree 1 ("do") is tuned to. A song in a minor key is labeled "6=X" instead -- scale degree 6 ("la") is the true tonic. Chord names printed above the notes (like "C" or "G7") always use their familiar letter names, never numbers.

For example, under a "1=C" heading, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sound as C D E F G A B. Under a "1=G" heading, those very same numbers sound as G A B C D E F# instead -- same shape, different key.

O to be like Thee

Longings For Likeness to Christ

English398
1
O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer;
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
 
O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
2
O to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinners to find.
3
O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.
4
O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming,
Now to receive th’ anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing;
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.
5
O to be like Thee! While I am pleading
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love.
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit for a life which Thou wouldst approve.

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Maria Long

Fremont, California, United States

Jan 14, 2026

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.

May we be emptied continually in our spirit so that we may be filled with You, the One who is meek and lowly in heart. We love you Ord Jesus ❤️

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Un Hermano

Nov 2, 2025

EXPERIENCING CHRIST’S INDWELLING

Now let us see how we can experience Christ’s indwelling. The Lord Jesus was thoughtful. He did many things, none of which was foolish. He spoke many words, none of which was unclear. Whenever He spoke, He spoke just the right amount, neither too much nor too little. His emotions were well balanced. He exercised His anger when warranted but with restraint, and His love was also tempered. Furthermore, His will was steadfast. All His expressions were love, light, holiness, and righteousness. He was true, dignified, righteous, pure, lovely, and well spoken of. Furthermore, He was virtuous and praiseworthy. He was the real goodness and the genuine beauty; He was God. In some ways, we are like Him. He has thoughts, and so do we. He has emotions, and so do we. His will is steadfast, and so is ours. Jesus loves, and so do we. Jesus is honest and upright, and so are we. Jesus is holy, and so are we. Jesus is righteous, and so are we. Although there is a difference in degree, we are of the same kind because we were created in His image.

The Lord Jesus is not only wonderful but also mysterious. When you open up your heart and receive Him as your Savior, He comes into you and dwells in you to be your life and everything. How does He come into you? The Bible says that He died for us, was buried, and was resurrected. Now He has become the life-giving Spirit. Today He is the omnipresent Spirit; He is everywhere. Whoever believes into Him and calls upon Him, He will enter into this one to be his life and content. This is the most marvelous thing in the world. The Lord comes into us to dwell in us, and this is what we refer to as His indwelling. The indwelling Christ is the embodiment of God and the life-giving, omnipresent Spirit. He has a mind, emotion, and will; He is also love, light, holiness, and righteousness. In the beginning we were created in His image, so we also have a mind, emotion, and will, as well as love, light, holiness, and righteousness. However, we were only an empty shell without the content and reality. We were just like the empty glove that was made in the form of a hand. One day God became flesh as the Lord Jesus. He lived the human life, died, resurrected, and became the life-giving Spirit. The life-giving Spirit is the Lord Jesus with His mind, emotion, and will and the God who is love, light, holiness, and righteousness. The Spirit enters into us like the hand that fits into the glove to become its content and reality. Thus, we are no longer those who are empty, without content. Our created human virtues are no longer merely a shell, because Christ is in us as the reality.

The Subjective Experience
of the Indwelling Christ
Chapter 5 WWL, 1983, vol. 1 (LSM)

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Selena Nobbs

Yakima, Washington, United States

Sep 9, 2025

In my Bible study we have been studying the life of Abraham. We finished up the series this evening. This song came to me tonight before bed. It is the cry of my heart to be fully surrendered to God as Abraham was in the end. Thank you, Lord, for confirming everything you speak.

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浩克李

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Jul 31, 2025

I want to be like Thee!

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Bro Gabriel

Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria

Jul 24, 2025

To Jesus is heart cry

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Ngan Godspower

Gombe, Rivers State, Nigeria

Jul 8, 2025

As each day and different circumstances exposes the weakness of myself, this song summaries the deepest prayers of my heart; O, to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer 🙏

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Anthony Wilkinson

Bourbonnais, IL, United States

Apr 16, 2025

As I read Psalm 15 this morning, the Spirit brought this song to me from far away in my distant past. So grateful for God's wonderful presence and power to change.

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Olamilekan

Lagos, Nigeria

Apr 6, 2025

My daily prayer to Thee blessed redeemer

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Hachi Josh

Port Harcourt, PH, Nigeria

Mar 6, 2025

This is my daily cry, I love Jesus so much and I long to be like Him.

This is a song, is my prayer and my heart desire. God bless the writer of this song. Wow!

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Winona Schweikart

Muncy, Pennsylvania, United States

Jan 26, 2025

I am coming up on being interviewed soon by my denomination to be ordained an Elder.

I was asked to come prepared to articulate holiness and sanctification in the life of a believer. I awoke this morning around 4:00am with the chorus of this hymn playing over and over in my mind.

I am believing the full lyrics will be going with me to the interview. 😀🎵

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