I woke up with a headache this morning that caffeine wouldn’t touch (I’m blaming it on the red tide at the beach yesterday) and it started going downhill from there.
I was trying to complete an important project for my employer and I kept slamming up against computer problems that would have made a preacher cuss.
Then I learned someone I love deeply was having problem after problem I can do nothing about and I wanted to cry in frustration.
I could feel my mood getting away from me. Can you relate?
Instead of resigning myself to just “making it work” (my default approach), I chose to relax my hands, swipe away the pesky tears and ask God to please help me lean into Him and salvage this day.
I need to be productive.
I want to help.
I ache to find harmony.
I asked Him how I could possibly do that and would He please help? Then I sat with the request for a few moments and tried to just calm my spirit.
He didn’t answer me audibly but a short while later I realized I had a song stuck in my mind. It finally seeped into my conscious awareness and I realized it was “Bless the Lord, O My Soul”.
I don’t even remember the last time I sang this song in church or heard it on the radio but it is truly one of the loveliest worship songs out there. In that moment I felt like God was showing me how I could lean into Him and get through a day like this.
Here is how it starts (listen to the whole song here):
“The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
It was like God had been softly singing this in the recesses of my mind, as an invitation for me to remember that He is worthy to be worshiped no matter what. I can sing this back to Him and trust that with His help, this day can be salvaged.
Oh man.
I want to be singing this song “when the evening comes.”
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I love this so much. The image of leaning in to God is a powerful one. I forget at times that he is my heavenly father who loves me. Sometimes I need a hug from the Dad.
I’m so glad you resonate with this. He’s a good Dad, isn’t he? We have “10,000 reasons” to bless His name, as the song says!
Ohman indeed. Diane, this is exactly what I needed right now. From God through you to me. Thanks to both of you. 🙂
You just can’t know how much it means to me to hear that from you, Dorie. Thanks back to YOU, my friend.
Call me if you have the time! Your frozen and snowed in buddy–
________________________________
A quote from a poet critics never liked, but then who do critics really like?
“Brave your storms with firm endeavor
let your vain repinings go;
Hopeful hearts will find forever
Roses beneath the snow.”
I love those old poems. That’s a good one – thanks for sharing! (Critics are like most weather forecasters; they don’t really know what they’re talking about, they just like the attention.)
That’s beautiful.
Thanks, Julie!
Thanks for this message Diane, God always sends someone.
I always appreciate your input, Vernette! Thank you ~
Lovely! Thanks for this message. i especially like your yearning for “harmony.” i think that is something we all need to think about: both as individuals and as communities.
Ah, yes. Harmony as individuals AND as communities – that’s a concept that bears more consideration and much greater effort. We play an important role in both.
I am not much of a music person in general but a worship song to God is what always comes to my mind and heart when I am in need of Him! We were made to worship God, why dont we do it all the time?
So true, we were made to worship Him at all time, but we seem to forget that (to our detriment). We all do. That a worship song comes to your mind and heart when you need Him I think is evidence of His love. That’s just cool.