Tag Archive for: song
Are you thirsty?
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare…
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands” (Isaiah 55).
Are you thirsty? I am. I crave a word from God, a sign that I’m on the right track. A sign that he’s around and knows the turmoil I feel. I long for satisifing labor, to eat what is good, and sense delight in my soul. It seems as though I’m in a dry and thirsty land right now, with no sign of refreshment or nourishment close by. As David cries out in the Psalms, where are you God? Have you deserted me? Where can I go to find respite for my soul?
Yet, you tell me that your word goes forth and will not return void. Your word will accomplish the purpose you desire. I long to go out in joy and be led forth in peace, to burst out in grateful song and clap my hands.
Prayer: Dear God, I seek you now. I call on you for help and a refuge away from the storms of life. Have mercy on me, O God. I know you’ll lavish your forgiveness on me if I turn to you in my distress. Your thoughts are not my thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. But I trust in you even when I cannot see you or the ways you have chosen for me. I still put my trust in you. You are God, and I am not.
Ask: Are you in a dark tunnel and cannot see any light ahead? Does it feel as though everyone and everything is against you? Can you hang on for just another day until God’s purpose is revealed?
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Do you have a song?
“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.” – Chinese Proverb
I came across this quote while exploring Maya Angelou’s web page. The quote made me ponder. Do I have all the answers? Of course not, but I do know the One who does have all the answers. In fact, He made up the questions to go along with all the answers He possesses.
All the answers can be found in the Holy Scriptures if we take the time to dig and ask. I’m eager to begin the study of the book of Psalms called in Hebrew, the “Ashrei,” which means “Happy are they.” Psalms are all about God and His relationship to His creation, nations of the world, and most importantly, His believing people. “The Psalms reveal the faith, doubts, victories, failures, and hopes for the glorious future of those who seek God with their whole heart. The Psalms teach us to worship God in truth and to worship Him because of who He is not just because of what He gives.” (taken from Becky Reynolds study on the Psalms)
I, too, have a song. Do I always feeling like singing or shouting for joy? No, sometimes I make a conscious choice to be happy because I really do have a lot to be happy about.
Many times (too numerous to count) God rescues me. Thankfully, He is slow to anger and rich in love. He stands beside me when I was sick and when I am not. He promises to never leave or forsake me even when I deserving leaving and forsaking. He is my rock, my fortress where I can go when the storms of life surround me.
So, you see, I have much to sing about. If not me, then the stones will cry out!
“I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name forever and ever.” (Psalm 145:1)
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