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Category Archives: Hymns and Songs

“Nothing is Beyond You”

25 Jun

Nothing is Beyond You

Where could I go, where could I run

Even if I found the strength to fly

And if I rose on the wings of the dawn

And crashed through the corner of the sky

If I sailed past the edge of the sea

Even if I made my bed in Hell

Still there You would find me

‘Cause nothing is beyond You

You stand beyond the reach

Of our vain imaginations

Our misguided piety

The heavens stretch to hold You

And deep cries out to deep

Singing that nothing is beyond You

Nothing is beyond You

Time cannot contain You

You fill eternity

Sin can never stain You

Death has lost its sting

And I cannot explain the way You came to love me

Except to say that nothing is beyond You

Nothing is beyond You

If I should shrink back from the light

So I can sink into the dark

If I take cover and I close my eyes

Even then You would see my heart

And You’d cut through all my pain and rage

The darkness is not dark to You

And night’s as bright as day

Nothing is beyond You

You stand beyond the reach

Of our vain imaginations

Our misguided piety

The heavens stretch to hold You

And deep cries out to deep

Singing that nothing is beyond You

Nothing is beyond You

And time cannot contain You

You fill eternity

Sin can never stain You

And death has lost its sting

And I cannot explain the way You came to love me

Except to say that nothing is beyond You

Nothing is beyond You

Nothing is beyond You

Songwriters: Mitch Mcvicker / Rich Mullins / Tom Booth

Dear God, the verse of the day was Jeremiah 23:24, and it made me think of this song. Nothing is beyond you. Whether it’s the places I might try to hide in my sin or my shame, or it’s your involvement in the problems and challenges I face, nothing is beyond you.

The pastor in church yesterday was talking about Jesus calling the storm on the boat and Jesus challenged the disciples asking them why they were afraid. “Notice he didn’t say there’s nothing to be afraid of,” the pastor said, “but, ‘Why are you afraid?’” I liked that. There’s plenty to fear. From nuclear wars all of the way down to the real challenges I face at work, but there’s no reason to fear.

Father, nothing is beyond you. I have a work problem that has haunted me all weekend and yet I have only prayed about it a little. This deserves much more prayer than that. Everyone involved deserves me to really be throwing myself before you and requesting your help in solving these vexing problems. So please help me. Please help us. Guide us exactly where you want us to go. I will spend more time praying about this today, but let it start here.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 25, 2018 in Hymns and Songs, Jeremiah

 

“You are My Supply”

08 Jun

“You are My Supply” (Antioch Community Church version, not Chris Tomlin version)
The seasons have dried my soul
The Sun is hard beating down
And my temptation
Is to look at all that’s gone
But you are here,
You are here

You are my supply
Your my fountain of blessing
to the ends of the earth
You are my supply
And you wipe away my tears
And you take away my fears
With the strength of your love
The strength of your love

And after all is said
After all’s been done
I sit here empty
But my heart is yours
And you are here.
You are near.

And you are my supply
You’re my fountain of blessing
To the ends of the earth
You are my supply
And you wipe away my tears
And you take away my fears
With the strength of your love.
The strength of your love
Your perfect love drives out all my fear
Your perfect love drives out all my fear

 

Dear God, this song has meant a lot to me in the past. I love the opening words to the first verse: “The seasons have dried my soul.” Talk about poetry using six words to say what would otherwise take me 300 to explain. I’ve had some remarkably dry seasons. This, thankfully, isn’t one of them, but when I look back on the times when the seasons dried my soul the most I can take some lessons from those times. So the dry seasons weren’t wasted.

While I guess I can go back and give specific lessons from each drought, I think the overarching lesson is the chorus–you are my supply. And you have room for my soul to be dry. You understand I’m not always going to be at the top of my game. I could even consider some of those trials as training for later in life. One of the things top athletes will tell you is that practice should be so hard that the games or competitions are easy by comparison. Well, my lessons learned in the past have certainly prepared me for challenges that came later in my life.

Father, I just want to sing this chorus with confidence and conviction this morning: You are my supply. You’re my fountain of blessing to the ends of the earth. You are my supply. And you wipe away my tears–you take away my fears–with the strength of your love. Your perfect love drives out all my fear.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 8, 2018 in Hymns and Songs, Uncategorized

 

17 May

A Might Fortress is our God – by Martin Luther

1

A mighty Fortress is our God,

A Bulwark never failing;

Our Helper He amid the flood

Of mortal ills prevailing:

For still our ancient foe

Doth seek to work us woe;

His craft and power are great,

And, armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.

2

Did we in our own strength confide,

Our striving would be losing;

Were not the right Man on our side,

The Man of God’s own choosing:

Dost ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is He;

Lord Sabaoth His Name,

From age to age the same,

And He must win the battle.

3

And though this world, with devils filled,

Should threaten to undo us,

We will not fear, for God hath willed

His truth to triumph through us:

The Prince of Darkness grim,

We tremble not for him;

His rage we can endure,

For lo! his doom is sure,

One little word shall fell him.

4

That word above all earthly powers,

No thanks to them, abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours

Through Him who with us sideth:

Let goods and kindred go,

This mortal life also;

The body they may kill:

God’s truth abideth still,

His Kingdom is forever.

Dear God, My wife told me about a funeral She went to yesterday that sounds redemptive and incredible. The young man was apparently plagued by alcoholism and depression and they confronted it head on. The service apparently opened with this hymn. My wife told me it really fit because of how the hymn references all of the demons and how you are our refuge and protector.

So I got to thinking about this hymn and its meaning. Until she mentioned it this morning, I don’t know that I had ever really paid attention to it. And it’s ironic since the best funeral I’ve ever been to opened with this hymn as well, but it was played by a brass quintet.

The two men who had died at each funeral could not have been more different from each other. One was old and had spent his whole life in Christian ministry, although he had struggled with clinical depression. The other was young and had never been able to overcome the alcoholism and depression. But you were turns and still are, in their deaths and afterlives, a mighty fortress to them.

Father, be my mighty fortress today. Be glorified through me. Love others through me. Help me to completely seek you as I handle each issue that comes my way today. In Jesus’ name I pray,Amen

 
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Posted by on May 17, 2018 in Hymns and Songs

 

“Charm is Deceitful” by Kim Hill

12 May

“Charm is Deceitful” by Kim Hill (Proverbs 31)

Charm is deceitful
Beauty is vain
But a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised
A woman who fears the Lord
In a world where we see with our eyes
I pray for eyes that see the heart
‘Cause flesh is unfaithful
And is of no gain
But a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised
A woman who fears the Lord
And I know that when He sees me
It won’t be beauty that He longs to hold
It’ll be the love that He finds inside my heart
‘Cause charm is deceitful
Beauty is vain
But a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised
A woman who fears
Yes a woman who fears
A woman who fears the Lord

Dear God, Proverbs 31 was the verse of the day on Bible Gateway, so I thought I would bring out another Kim Hill song today. I think this one was on her first album as well (along with Psalm 1 that I did earlier this week). This one doesn’t follow the proverb as closely as the other one follows the psalm, but it’s certainly conveys the same message.

I assume Bible Gateway did this because Mother’s Day is tomorrow. I have to tell you, I couldn’t have more respect for my wife and the woman she is than I do right now. She loves others very well. She sacrifices for her family and friends when she needs to. She takes care of her soul, mind, heart, and body. She fears you. She spends so much time praying for others. I told her last night that I absolutely cannot imagine being more compatible with anyone else.

So, Father, I thank you for my wife. I thank you for making me a better man because of her. I thank you for the friendship and instruction that you give me through her. I thank you for the love and acceptance. Please give her a great portion of your blessing, peace, joy, and strength. Help her to tangibly feel you around her. I really do love her.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 12, 2018 in Hymns and Songs, Proverbs

 

Psalm 1

10 May

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Psalm 1

Dear God, as I was reading this psalm this morning I remembered that there is a son by Kim Hill from close to 30 years ago called “Psalm 1.” I had forgotten she did that. I looked it up and it was a nice refresher for that being a nice song. I think it might have been the first track on her first album.

As I thought about this psalm’s message this morning the other thing that occurred to me is that this is the psalm that the ancient organizers thousands of years ago chose to be first. A lot like “Holy, Holy, Holy” is almost always the first song in the Baptist Hymnal, this is the first psalm in the Jewish Book of Psalms. The organizers wanted to emphasize being righteous and pursuing righteousness. They wanted to condemn those who judge, mock, and do evil things. This was the first message they wanted to emphasize.

Father, help me to remember this lesson. Help me to plant myself by your living water so that my life might grow to be of most service to you. Be glorified in me so that others will be drawn to you and experience your living water for themselves.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 10, 2018 in Hymns and Songs, Psalms

 

Blessings – Laura Story

13 Apr

Give your burdens to the Lord,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Psalm 55:22

Dear God, this was the verse from My Utmost for His Highest today, and Oswald Chambers’ take on it was really good. I even forwarded it to a friend this morning who has been going through some trials. Here are some excerpts that I liked:

 

“We must distinguish between the burden-bearing that is right and the burden-bearing that is wrong. We ought never to bear the burden of sin or of doubt, but there are burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off, He wants us to roll them back on Him.”

 

This is what caught my eye immediately. How often do we try to get rid of the burdens you want us to bear so that you can shape us into who you know we can be, but we will hold on to the burden of shame and secrecy that comes with sins we commit and maybe even the sins committed against us? There is a song called “Blessings” by Laura Story that perfectly describes how your burdens might be shaping us. I’ll paste the lyrics at the end of this prayer.

 

“Many workers have gone out with high courage and fine impulses, but with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, and before long they are crushed.”

 

I am guilty, guilty, guilty of this. I am so guilty of this. I get an idea and then I trust in myself to try to pull it off. But the times in my life when I have seen the most success from my work are the times when I have earnestly prayed to you. Now there have been situations about which I have prayed and you didn’t answer quickly and they went a different direction than I hoped. I have been disappointed in you. There have been times I have yelled at you. But I truly know that whenever I go “out with high courage and fine impulses,” but I don’t lead with an earnest seeking of you then even if things turn out okay there is not nearly as much joy and victory in them.

 

“Commit to God whatever burden He has placed on you. Don’t just cast it aside, but put it over onto Him and place yourself there with it.”

 

I need to not only embrace my burden, but put myself there with it. I love that! I love the idea of not just throwing my burden to the cross, but also putting me there with the burden. After all, I am the one with whom the burden resides. I remember when my children were young and I was struggling to parent them, I asked a friend, “How do I turn my children over to God? I don’t know what that looks like because I am still responsible for them.” But reading this, I think the answer is that I put myself there with them, in your loving arms.

Father, help me to lead with you today. Please bless the fruit of my work. Whether it is with my wife, my children, my job, or my family and friends, bless my path. Be glorified in me and through me so that others might see you when they see me.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 

 

“Blessings” Laura Story

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home
It’s not our home

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

 
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Posted by on April 13, 2018 in Hymns and Songs, My Utmost for His Highest Scripture of the Day, Psalms, Uncategorized

 

Biblical Family Values – “First Family” by Rich Mullins

11 Apr

“First Family” by Rich Mullins

My folks they were always the first family to arrive

With seven people jammed into a car that seated five

There was one bathroom to bathe and shave in

Six of us stood in line

And hot water for only three

But we all did just fine

Talk about your miracles

Talk about your faith

My dad he could make things grow

Out of Indiana clay

Mom could make a gourmet meal

Out of just cornbread and beans

And they worked to give faith hands and feet

And somehow gave it wings

I can still hear my dad cussin’

He’s working late out in the barn

The spring planting is coming

And the tractors just won’t run

Mom she’s done the laundry

I can see it waving on the line

Now they’ve stayed together

Through the pain and the strain of those times

Talk about your miracles

Talk about your faith

My dad he could make things grow

Out of Indiana clay

Mom could make a gourmet meal

Out of just cornbread and beans

And they worked to give faith hands and feet

And somehow gave it wings

And now they’ve raised five children

One winter they lost a son

But the pain didn’t leave them crippled

And the scars have made them strong

Never picture perfect

Just a plain man and his wife

Who somehow knew the value

Of hard work, good love, and real life

Talk about your miracles

Talk about your faith

My dad he could make things grow

Out of Indiana clay

Mom could make a gourmet meal

Out of just cornbread and beans

And they worked to give faith hands and feet

And somehow gave it wings

Dear God, I’ll hear people that we should have more biblical family values in America. I’ll hear well-meaning Christians say that they want to minister to other families and help them to be less dysfunctional. One time, I asked a young woman who was wanting to do such a ministry, “Which biblical family do you think we should emulate?” Her parents and grandparents were old family friends and very good people who openly talked about their flaws, so I pointed out to her some of the dysfunction in her own family that was public knowledge. I think the ultimate answer is that it goes one relationship at a time–one relationship with you at a time.

My one family with my wife and children is far from perfect and has its share of dysfunction. A lot of it is my fault, but, of course, I’m not alone. We’ve all made mistakes. And my wife and I loved you, worshipped you, and prayed to you for our marriage and for our kids. But that’s the way it is. Nothing is perfect. No one is perfect. That’s actually a fairly liberating thought.

I recently gave a couple of friends a marriage book called Sacred Marriage. The tag line is, “What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?” That is the thesis of the whole book, and it really helped me back when we were less than 10 years into our marriage and had young children.

Father, help me to continue to be made into who you are growing me to be through my marriage, my children, and the rest of my family. Be glorified in my life so that I might be your instrument of influence where appropriate and so that I can love richly in every way.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 11, 2018 in Hymns and Songs

 

“Waterfalls” – TLC

07 Apr

Dear God, this song is on my “Pop” playlist, and I kind of paid attention to it for the first time this morning. I’ve always liked the sound, but until about 45 minutes ago, I couldn’t have told you what it was about. But this morning, when it came on my iPod, something encouraged me to stop and look at the lyrics. It had so much more meaning that I expected.

Here are the words to the song as well at a link to the music video which was the music video of the year in 1995:

“Waterfalls”
Performed by TLC,
Songwriters: Lisa Lopes / Marqueze Ethridge / Patrick Brown / Raymon Ameer Murray / Rico Renard Wade

A lonely mother gazing out of her window
Staring at a son that she just can’t touch
If at any time he’s in a jam she’ll be by his side
But he doesn’t realize he hurts her so much
But all the praying just ain’t helping at all
‘Cause he can’t seem to keep his self out of trouble
So, he goes out and he makes his money the best way he know how
Another body laying cold in the gutter
Listen to me

Don’t go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to
I know that you’re gonna have it your way or nothing at all
But I think you’re moving too fast

Little precious has a natural obsession for temptation
But he just can’t see
She give him loving that his body can’t handle
But all he can say is, “Baby, it’s good to me”
One day he goes and takes a glimpse in the mirror
But he doesn’t recognize his own face
His health is fading and he doesn’t know why
Three letters took him to his final resting place
Y’all don’t hear me

Don’t go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to
I know that you’re gonna have it your way or nothing at all
But I think you’re moving too fast

I seen rainbow yesterday
But too many storms have come and gone
Leavin’ a trace of not on God-given ray
Is it because my life is ten shades of gray
I pray all ten fade away
Seldom praise Him for the sunny days
And like his promise is true
Only my faith can undo
The many chances I blew
To bring my life to anew
Clear blue and unconditional skies
Have dried the tears from my eyes
No more lonely cries
My only bleedin’ hope
Is for the folk who can’t cope
Wit such an endurin’ pain
That it keeps ’em in the pourin’ rain
Who’s to blame
For tootin’ caine in your own vein
What a shame
You shoot and aim for someone else’s brain
You claim the insane
And name this day in time
For fallin prey to crime
I say the system got you victim to your own mind
Dreams are hopeless aspirations
In hopes of comin’ true
Believe in yourself
The rest is up to me and you

Don’t go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to
I know that you’re gonna have it your way or nothing at all
But I think you’re moving too fast

Don’t go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to
I know that you’re gonna have it your way or nothing at all
But I think you’re moving too fast

I don’t really want to take the time here to deep dive into each verse, but, instead, I’d like to step back and think about how this song speaks to me.

The first thing that hit me was the frustration of a parent. At any stage of life I wanted to be so much more than I could be for my children, but it’s just not possible. At this point, I have 48 years of living and they have 22 and 19, respectively. I’ve learned things that I simply cannot impart to them. Of course, there’s still so much that I don’t know and still have to learn. They have to learn all of it for themselves. And sometimes the mistakes they make will be irreparable. Even worse, sometimes things will happen to them to harm them that are beyond their control. What is in their control is how they will respond to them. Will they let me, my wife, or someone else help them? More importantly, will they turn to you for comfort, guidance, and freedom, or will they allow it to break them?

The second thing that I take from this song is that we all have choices to make. From the mother in the first verse, to her son, to the man in the second verse, and then to his girlfriend/wife, each person is responding to their life and what they will seek for happiness and peace, and how they will choose to love a person who is destroying themselves. In the first verse, the son decided to make money through selling drugs and she decided to be next to him whenever he was in a jam. In the second verse, the woman’s love wasn’t enough her him and exposed both of them to HIV/AIDS. The mother, in particular, strikes me Does she make a mistake by always being by his side when he gets in trouble? Was more “tough love” needed. Or is that cruel. Did the song writer include those words intentionally?

Father, I could go on and on, but at the end of the day, this song is about fallen humans (all four of them) needing to reach out to you That’s what it comes down to for me as well. I am fallen. My wife is fallen. My children are fallen. None of us has anymore standing in your eyes than the other. So I guess my prayer is, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 

 
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Posted by on April 7, 2018 in Hymns and Songs, Uncategorized

 

“Hymn of Promise” & I Can Only Imagine (the movie)

18 Mar

“Hymn of Promise”

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed an apple tree; In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see

There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody; There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me. From the past will come the future; what it holds a mystery, Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our End is our beginning; in our time, infinity; In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity, In our death a resurrection; at the last, a victory, Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

Dear God, I was struck by this poem/song from a funeral I attended yesterday and I decided to keep the program so I could talk with. You about it later. Now is the later.

My life of faith and following you is such a frustrating process because I seem to be incapable of seeing at any given moment how far I have to go. Maybe that’s for my own good–after all, I’m a firm believer in the concept that you keep me on a need-to-know basis–but my life seems to be a slow process. I read this poem and it reminds me that there is so much that we don’t/can’t see and reassures me that you can.

I just came back from the movie “I Can Only Imagine.” It’s a Christian movie. No offense meant to you, but I usually avoid Christian movies because I too often take issue with their presentation. I saw the preview for this one, however, and decided to take a chance. The song of the same title that is woven through the movie meant a lot to me when I first heard it in church about 16 years ago, and the preview made it look like it would deal with humanity in an honest way. I was right to take a chance. It was good.

For the first third of the movie, I was wondering if the main character’s father was really the protagonist in the story (much like in Star Wars Episodes 1-6, the real protagonist is Anakin Skywalker and not Luke like we are led to believe in Episode 4). He seemed to be the one who was driving the story. But as the movie played out, I started to see a different message. This wasn’t a movie about a terribly sinful man repenting and cleaning up his act (that would have been the kind of lazy writing that keeps me from watching Christian movies). Instead, it was about a son who clung to you as a child, but didn’t figure out how to do it and to be free for another 15 years. He tried. He did a lot of things right on paper. He loved you. He worshipped you. He tried to make a living doing Christian/Godly things. But it took a while before his heart was transformed.

I texted a friend after the movie that we all wish that becoming a mature Christian could be done with a microwave, but the process seems to be more akin to a crockpot. It’s a slow cook. You have to tenderize us and soak us in your juices. Our hardness needs to be broken down. Those are things a microwave just can’t do.

Father, if I’m doing this thing of following and worshipping you right, then the thing that I have to accept is that I am not there yet. I know you better and love others better now than I did five years ago. I hope I will know you even better and love others even more five years from now. I am not home yet, but when I am there, “I can only imagine what it will be like when I walk by your side. I can only imagine what my eyes will see when your face is before me. I can only imagine. Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of you be still? Will I stand in your presence, or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine. I can only imagine when that day comes, and I find myself standing in the Sun. I can only imagine when all I can do is forever, forever worship you. I can only imagine.”

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 18, 2018 in Hymns and Songs, Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

The 23rd Psalm – “If I Stand”

17 Mar

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23:1-6

Dear God, as I just read this, I was trying to separate out all of the times I’ve heard and read this in my life, and try to see the words from David’s perspective. What was he experiencing at the time? Was he at a high spot, worshipping you, or was he in a valley and trying to remind himself of your goodness? As the modern church we seem to have grasped the “valley” part and adopted it for funerals. In fact, I’m going to a funeral this afternoon and the odds are probably even that I’ll hear it read there.

It made me think about a song by Rich Mullins called “If I Stand.” He said that he wrote it for the times in his life when he was doing great and things were at a high and also for the low times.

(Chorus) If I stand, let me stand on the promise that you will pull me through. And if I can’t let me fall on the grave that first brought me to you. And if I sing let me sing for the joy that has born in me these songs. And if I weep let it be as a man who is longing for his home.”

Things can get awfully confusing in the moment. As a human with a small mind I so much lack perspective. And things can also turn on a dime. I can be feeling great and secure one moment and literally five minutes later be scared and confused. I think maybe one of the things this psalm tells me is that, at the deepest of levels, I can be at peace in any situation. Whether I’m in the green meadow or the valley of darkness or death, I am still you lamb and you are still my shepherd. Ultimately, as my shepherd, you’re going to do with me as you will, but that’s okay with me because you are good and even if your plan for me isn’t what I would choose, I worship you, submit to you, and trust you.

Father, help me to mean and live out what I just said. Help me to be your servant in every situation and to learn what you would have me to do in sharing this with others.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 17, 2018 in Hymns and Songs, Psalms

 
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