This is what I woke up to this morning. Just a few lines on a constant loop in my head. “I’m sorry, that I’ve just gone through the motions. I’m sorry, when I just sang another song”.
This morning I prayed for me, repented for the times that I really just went throught the motions. There have been many of those times in my life. Just get through another church service so I can do my “important” stuff of the day. I’ve checked so many boxes of doing the right thing that I’ve forgotten to do the heart thing.
Don’t get me wrong, there have been many times when I been living with my whole heart and a heart after God, I wasn’t just going through the motions. The chorus of this song says, “I’m caught up in your presence, I just want to sit here at your feet. I’m caught up in this holy moment, I never want to leave.” When I’m in a heavenly place that’s exactly how I feel, I never want to leave.
But, then there’s that squirrel that grabs my attention and there I go. I think of the story of Mary and Martha often and it is one of my foundations that I stand on. Mary just wanted to sit at His feet. Martha also wanted to sit at His feet. They both had the same goal, but Martha got sidetracked by “responsibilities”. I live a double life at times. I’m Mary one day and Martha the next. The greatest thing about that story to me is that Jesus loved them both. He loves me even if I’m going through the motions, but He doesn’t want me to stay there very long.
Today, I want to live in each moment and love Him during it all. Sit at His feet and feel His presence until something else comes that needs my attention knowing that He is still in my house and wants me in His presence, the one thing that is truly important.
He’s always there! What a comforting thought today. Not just for when I feel troubled and scared, but when I feel confident and secure also. How many times do I find myself messing things up because, “I can do it myself”? It makes me think of the three year old that wants to pour their own milk………sorry, that image is scary. So many times I have insisted that I’ve got this and then I have to take the broken pieces to Him to fix, when in reality if I would’ve just let Him help in the beginning, there wouldn’t be any broken pieces to mend.
What is so beautiful about this song is that it reminds me that He was there all the time. From the hurting and waiting to the healing. He is there waiting for me to put my hand in His. He is there to encourage me and hold me up when I feel that I can’t take another step. And, He’s there to rejoice with me when He has just brought me through a victory.
As I began to sing this song this morning a great thankfulness flooded my heart that even when I didn’t want Him, He never stopped wanting me. He waited oh so patiently until I decided to find my way back through pain and sorrow. He is the great physician and He has made me whole.
When you’re waiting and hurting and healing, remember He is there to walk beside you.
Lyrics
Every time I try to make it on my own Every time I try to stand, I start to fall And all those lonely roads that I have traveled on There was JesusWhen the life I built came crashing to the ground When the friends I had were nowhere to be found I couldn’t see it then but I can see it now There was JesusIn the waiting, in the searching In the healing, in the hurting Like a blessing buried in the broken pieces Every minute, every moment Where I’ve been or where I’m going Even when I didn’t know it Or couldn’t see it There was JesusFor this man who needs amazing kind of grace (mm-hmm) For forgiveness and a price I couldn’t pay (mm-hmm, mm-hmm) I’m not perfect so I thank God every day There was Jesus There was JesusIn the waiting, in the searching In the healing, in the hurting Like a blessing buried in the broken pieces Every minute, every moment Where I’ve been or where I’m going Even when I didn’t know it Or couldn’t see itThere was Jesus On the mountains In the valleys There was Jesus In the shadows Of the alleysThere was Jesus In the fire, in the flood There was Jesus Always is and always was, ohNo, I never walk alone Never walk alone You’re always thereIn the waiting, in the searching In the healing, in the hurting Like a blessing buried in the broken pieces Every minute, every moment Where I’ve been or where I’m going Even when I didn’t know it Or couldn’t see it There was JesusThere was Jesus There was Jesus There was Jesus
This morning my song came from Cody Carnes. “Run to The Father”. The phrase, “so I’ll run to the father again and again and again” is what caught my attention. The thought occured to me that I can run to the father any time that I need to. When I’m in trouble or just when I want to be near Him. Being saved isn’t about coming to the father once, it’s about returning again and again and again.
I love the phrase in the song, “fall into grace”. It sounds like a place of security and comfort. It’s also a place of trust. It makes me think of a trust fall, that activity where you fall backwards into someone’s arms and never fear that they will catch you. Falling into grace is falling into the father’s arms. He will never let you fall. When your soul needs a friend you can always run to the father, again and again and again!
As I’ve pondered this song today, my heart feels like it has found it’s surgeon and that grace is where I want to dwell.
Lyrics
I’ve carried a burden For too long on my own I wasn’t created To bear it alone I hear Your invitation To let it all go Yeah, I see it now I’m laying it down And I know that I need You I run to the Father I fall into grace I’m done with the hiding No reason to wait My heart needs a surgeon My soul needs a friend So I’ll run to the Father Again and again And again and again Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh You saw my condition Had a plan from the start Your Son for redemption The price for my heart And I don’t have a context For that kind of love I don’t understand I can’t comprehend All I know is I need You I run to the Father I fall into grace I’m done with the hiding No reason to wait My heart needs a surgeon My soul needs a friend So I’ll run to the Father Again and again And again and again Oh-oh, oh-oh, again and again And again and again Oh-oh, oh-oh (oh-oh)My heart has been in Your sights Long before my first breath Running into Your arms Is running to life from death And I feel this rush deep in my chest Your mercy is calling out Just as I am You pull me in And I know I need You now I run to the Father I fall into grace I’m done with the hiding No reason to wait My heart needs a surgeon My soul needs a friend So I’ll run to the Father Again and again I run to the Father I fall into grace I’m done with the hiding No reason to wait And my heart found a surgeon My soul found a friend So I’ll run to the Father Again and again And again and again Oh-oh, oh-oh, again and again And again and again Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh Again and again
This morning I again woke up with a song from earlier in the week. And again, with a different phrase to leave an impression on me.
“Trouble won’t throw me, won’t break me, won’t scare me no more, fear must have thought I was faithless when it came for my heart” and “I’ll sing the fear into your praise” were the two phrases impacting me. Fear comes in like a roaring lion and confuses me at times. But, I know that I can sing that fear into praise and it works every time!
A couple of years ago I adopted a song as my life song for the time being. “Breakup Song” by Francesca Batistelli. The chorus always made me feel so empowered and know that when God is in the pictured fear has to flee. “Fear you don’t own me, there ain’t no room in this story”. I have often said that our brains are like computers and only hold so much information (it’s really my excuse for forgetfulness 😉). But, I think there might be something to it in our spiritual life. If our life is so filled with God and His son then we won’t have room for darkness and I believe that fear is darkness!
As I was praying, another song came to me, “Fear is a liar” by Zach Williams. All the things that fear instills in us is false. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have caution and carefulness, but fear is so much harder on our mind. God sees us and knows us and has just the right advice for us, if we’ll go to Him and ask.
So, today I’m here to say that sometimes fear creeps into my life, but if I’m sensitive to the Holy Spirit and pray through that fear turns to praise and my day goes a whole lot smoother. Today you get two bonus songs just because they have been such an inspiration to me in the past few years. Listen to what God wants to say to you through these songs. Are you feeling fearful over something in your life? Give it to God! My mom used to tell me to mentally wrap up my problems and tie them with a bow, give them to God and don’t open them again. It took me a long time to learn how to do that and I still fail with some problems. Sometimes, I tend to take the package back and open it to make sure the problem is still there. I keep it for awhile, fussing over it and then wrap it up again. I’m not sure what God thinks about this ritual, but I have found that when I just leave the package with Him, I’m so much more content in life.
Before the last few years fear was a huge part of my life. Afraid of things that didn’t really matter. Afraid of things that did matter. God spoke to me through these songs and taught me that trust in Him is really what matters!
Remember that fear is a liar, don’t let it own you, and you can turn that fear into praise when you surrender to God!
Lyrics “Not Today “
Trouble won’t throw me Won’t break me Won’t scare me No more Fear must have thought I was faithless When it came for my heart’Cause I got a song that will never die I know Your love is the reason whyI’ll sing the night into the morning I’ll sing the fear into Your praise I’ll sing my soul into Your presence Whenever I say Your Name Let the devil know not todayTell me did the enemy panic As You took up that cross Tell me did the darkness cry mercy As You rolled back that rock’Cause I know Your life is the life in mine I know Your love is the reason whyI’ll sing the night into the morning I’ll sing the fear into Your praise I’ll sing my soul into Your presence Whenever I say Your Name Let the devil know not today Whenever I say Your Name Jesus Let the devil know not today Not now not ever againYour love stood down death Crushed the devil’s head Fear is just a liar Running out of breath The fight beneath Your feet I’m standing on Jesus’ Name So let the devil know not today Let the devil know not today No no Not now not ever again Jesus Let the devil know not today, not today, not todayI’ll sing the night into the morning I’ll sing the fear into Your praise I’ll sing my soul into Your presence Whenever I say Your Name Jesus Let the devil know not today Let the devil know not today Not now not ever againLet the devil know not today Let the devil know not today Let the devil know not today
Lyrics “Breakup Song”
Sick and tired of being sick and tired Had as much of you as I can take I’m so done, so over being afraidI’ve gone through the motions I’ve been back and forth I know that you’re thinking you’ve heard this before I don’t know how to say it So I’m just gonna say it, yeahFear, you don’t own me There ain’t no room in this story And I ain’t got time for you Telling me what I’m not Like you know me well guess what? I know who I am I know I’m strong And I am free Got my own identity So fear, you will never be welcome hereTake a minute, let it settle in You probably never saw it coming Something’s gotta give so I give up you, oh There’s no room for you here Yeah, I’ve had enough The “No Vacancy” sign on my heart is lit up In case you didn’t hear it Here it is again,Oh, fear, you don’t own me There ain’t no room in this story And I ain’t got time for you Telling me what I’m not Like you know me well guess what? I know who I am I know I’m strong And I am free Got my own identity So fear, you will never be welcome hereIs there anybody out there just like me? Anybody needing fear to leave? If you don’t know how to say it Sing along with meSing fear, you don’t own me There ain’t no room in this story And I ain’t got time for you Telling me what I’m not Like you know me well guess what? I know who I am I know I’m strong, brave And I am free Got my own identity So fear, you will never be welcome here Whoa, goodbye, goodbye fear Whoa, you will never be welcome here
Lyrics “Fear is a Liar”
When he told you you’re not good enough When he told you you’re not right When he told you you’re not strong enough To put up a good fight When he told you you’re not worthy When he told you you’re not loved When he told you you’re not beautiful That you’ll never be enoughFear, he is a liar He will take your breath Stop you in your steps Fear he is a liar He will rob your rest Steal your happiness Cast your fear in the fire ‘Cause fear he is a liarWhen he told you were troubled You’ll forever be alone When he told you you should run away You’ll never find a home When he told you you were dirty And you should be ashamed When he told you you could be the one That grace could never changeFear he is a liar He will take your breath Stop you in your steps Fear he is a liar He will rob your rest Steal your happiness Cast your fear in the fire ‘Cause fear he is a liarLet Your fire fall and cast out all my fears Let Your fire fall Your love is all I feelLet Your fire fall and cast out all my fears Let Your fire fall Your love is all I feelLet Your fire fall and cast out all my fears Let Your fire fall Your love is all I feelOh, let Your fire fall and cast out all my fears Let Your fire fall Your love is all I feelOh, fear he is a liar He will take your breath Stop you in your steps Fear he is a liar He will rob your rest Steal your happiness Cast your fear in the fire ‘Cause fear he is a liar’Cause fear he is a liar
This song came to me again today. “Available” was the song that was playing when I heard the distinct call to write this blog. When it was on my mind again this morning, I thought, “Lord, why this song again so soon. I can’t write a blog about the same songs all the time” and just like He always does, he prodded me so sweetly, “but, what if I want to say something different this time?”. Ok, let’s do this!
When I was growing up our pastor’s wife was the worship leader. She would hear a new song at a convention or she would write a new song and she would sing it to death. I mean, just about every service this new song would be sung. I loved her dearly, but sometimes I wondered why she would sing this new song so much. Did she want to make sure we would never forget it? Did she forget the other songs? Or, could it be that she felt God in a different part of the song each time?
That is exactly what happened to me this morning. Th line that was rolling this morning was, “use me how you want to God”. That’s a tough one for me. I don’t like to step outside of my comfort zone and be stretched. This blog is stretching me. I am the one who likes to give a Reader’s Digest version of a story. Just the facts! But, I’m feeling that I need to share my daily feelings with my songs.
Today, you get two songs. The first one Available by Elevation Worship. The second came to me as I was praying about what God’s way is and what He wants from me, Lead Me, Lord by Brooklyn Tabernacle. Walking by faith does not come easy for me. I want to see the path and all the turns along the way before I embark on a journey. That’s not how trust and faith work. I have to be willing to blindfold myself and my knowledge, put my hand in His and trust that He can guide me around the pitfalls of life. I tend to take one step and then rip the blindfold off. If I can take one step today that is at least one step, but if I can double my faith each day, after a month I can take hundreds of steps in faith blinded to my own knowledge of the path.
One day at a time, walking in faith, doing what He wants me to do will prepare me and get me ready for His ultimate plan for my life. Whatever that may be, my heart needs to be ready.
So, today I pray that I can follow where He leads, Do what He wants me to do, and just say “yes”! I know I have fellow travelers on this journey and would love to share our stories and encourage each other.
Lyrics to Available
Narrow as the road may seem I’ll follow where your spirit leads Broken as my life may be I will give You every pieceI hear You call I am available I say yes Lord I am availableHere I am with open hands Counting on Your grace again Less of me and more of You I just wanna see You moveI hear You call I am available I say yes Lord I am availableHere I am, here I am You can have it all You can have it all Here I am, here I am You can have it all You can have it allFor the one who gave me life Nothing is a sacrifice Use me how you want to God Have your throne within my heart
Lyrics to Lead Me, Lord
It’s hard to take the first step When I don’t know the way Each turn is so uncertain I learn to walk by faith But you gave me a promise That you will never leave You will lead and guide me Lord I do believeLead me lord I will follow Lead me Lord I will goYou have called me I will answer Lead me Lord I will goYour plans for me are perfect I never need to fear For though at times I feel alone I know that you are near My heart just longs to follow I’m willing to obey Take my hand and lead me I follow all the wayYou have called me I will answer Lead me LordI will go
I first heard this song last year at a bible study. It made the impression that you can sing and worship your way into His presence.
This morning the Hillsong United song rang through my mind with the phrase, “let the devil know not today”. There are times when I have said to different situations, “get thee behind me, Satan” or “not today, Satan”. This song reminds me that not only do I have to deny evil thoughts, rude sayings, etc., but after denying the fleshly things, I can be in the presence of the king (in my case by singing).
The other line that rang so loudly this morning was, “I’ll sing the night into the morning”. That made me think about the scripture that talks about joy coming in the morning. So many things feel like dark and night sometimes. I feel that sometimes my thoughts are, since I’m a child of the king and walking in the light that there should be no darkness. When I sing and I mean really sing and get into what I’m singing, not just go through the motions, it’s then that I have that joy that comes in the morning.
Several years ago I was on a Mandisa kick. I would start my morning with her song, “Good Morning”. I would then follow that with “Overcomer” and then whatever else Mandisa I could get. I noticed that after awhile I was just going through my routine and I wasn’t in His presence. I know that because He truly would’ve been dissapointed in my actions at different times.
I grew up hiding from God. I believed that punishment was what he handed out. I believed that I needed to “be good” or “do the right thing” so I wouldn’t get in trouble. I went through a period of unbelief and denial of God, which was my darkest time ever. When I finally found the light again, I had a different perspective of God. I now believed that I wanted to “be good” and “do the right thing” because I wanted to please Him. I now wanted to be in His presence just to sit at His feet like Mary in the story of the two sisters, Mary and Martha. This was a mind blowing experience. I can say that I’ve known the Lord since I was a child, but my relationship with Him changed when I changed. I had to go through a nightime experience to find joy in the morning. I’m so glad that I found that morning joy!
So, today, I want to deny the fleshly things of this world and pray my way into His presence more and more.
Lyrics
Trouble won’t throw me Won’t break me Won’t scare me No more Fear must have thought I was faithless When it came for my heart’Cause I got a song that will never die I know Your love is the reason whyI’ll sing the night into the morning I’ll sing the fear into Your praise I’ll sing my soul into Your presence Whenever I say Your Name Let the devil know not todayTell me did the enemy panic As You took up that cross Tell me did the darkness cry mercy As You rolled back that rock’Cause I know Your life is the life in mine I know Your love is the reason whyI’ll sing the night into the morning I’ll sing the fear into Your praise I’ll sing my soul into Your presence Whenever I say Your Name Let the devil know not today Whenever I say Your Name Jesus Let the devil know not today Not now not ever againYour love stood down death Crushed the devil’s head Fear is just a liar Running out of breath The fight beneath Your feet I’m standing on Jesus’ Name So let the devil know not today Let the devil know not today No no Not now not ever again Jesus Let the devil know not today, not today, not todayI’ll sing the night into the morning I’ll sing the fear into Your praise I’ll sing my soul into Your presence Whenever I say Your Name Jesus Let the devil know not today Let the devil know not today Not now not ever againLet the devil know not today Let the devil know not today Let the devil know not today
This morning the bridge of this song rolled over and over. Your love is never gonna give up, never give up, you never give up on me. As I continued praying and beginning my day I sang more of the song.
Another line that stood out to me is, “Jesus, you’re not done with me, you’re doing a new thing, doing a new thing. For all I’ve seen I still believe, you’re doing a new thing, doing a new thing. Sometimes I feel like as I get older, there might not be as much for me. Other times I feel that because of experience that the best has not yet come. Being conflicted in my mind like that causes me to really reach out and see what God has for me.
I am clinging to the promis that He’s not done with me yet and He has a new thing for me. Trying to keep my mind open for what it might be.
Lyrics
These are the days that we prayed for A stirring of faith has begun And I’ve seen so much, still I’m certain That the best has not yet come (Sing)’Cause Jesus, You’re not done with me You’re doing a new thing You’re doing a new thingAnd I see a wave of revival Preceeded by justice and praise The young and the old run to Jesus Oh, and all the sins that held us back are laid to wasteJesus, You’re not done with me You’re doing a new thing You’re doing a new thing For all I’ve seen, I still believe You’re doing a new thing You’re doing a new thingYou’re doing a new thing In us, ohYour love is never gonna give up You never give up You never give up on me Your love is never gonna give up You never give up You never give up on me Your love is never gonna give up You never give up You never give up on me I know I know (we sing)Your love is never gonna give up You never give up You never give up on me Your love is never gonna give up You never give up You never give up on me Your love is never gonna give up You never give up You never give up on me I know I knowJesus, You’re not done with me You’re doing a new thing You’re doing a new thing For all I’ve seen, I still believe You’re doing a new thing You’re doing a new thing (This I know)Your love is never gonna give up You never give up You never give up on me Your love is never gonna give up You never give up You never give up on me Your love is never gonna give up You never give up You never give up on me I know I knowJesus, You’re not done with me You’re doing a new thing You’re doing a new thing For all I’ve seen, I still believe You’re doing a new thing You’re doing a new thingWe’re ready for what’s yet to come Ready for what You’ve got next We’re ready for the past to pass We’re running where the future is It’s coming like the rising sun We wanna see Your kingdom Come do a new thing Oh, come do a new thing ‘Cause You’re doing a new thing Oh, You’re doing a new thing Ooh, oh-oh
This morning this song rang through my mind as I was preparing for my day.
Today, I don’t need anything else!
Praying that today I can live my life in the faith of this song.
Enjoy this upbeat song today and maybe even do a little dancing.
I was searching for something Something I knew was there but couldn’t see I remember the moment When the One I was searching for found meI can’t make sense of it No getting over it How much Your love changed everything All ’cause I know You now How could I go without? Jesus You’re more than enough for meI don’t need anything else I need Your love I need Your love I don’t want anything else I need Your love I need Your loveGod I need You like water God I need You like I need air to breathe I won’t take You for granted I won’t go back to how I used to beI can’t make sense of it No getting over it How much Your love changed everything All ’cause I know You now How could I go without? Jesus You’re more than enough for me (let’s go!)
This morning’s song comes to you from Elevation Worship, “Graves to Gardens”. This has been one of my favorites for the past few months.
A couple of phrases kept rolling through my mind as I woke up this morning. The first phrase is “nothing is better than you”. That should be our hearts cry all the time. It is so simple to believe and have it be a part of our lives. It feels so wonderful when I am living this, yet there are times that I still find myself worrying or fretting over something that for him is so trivial, making that thing or problem bigger and more important than Him. Which leads right into the next phrase that kept rolling over in my mind.
“You turn mourning to dancing, you give beauty for ashes, you turn shame into glory, you’re the only one who can”. As I pondered this statement, it occured to me that he can’t do any of those things without a trade. If I don’t give him my mourning, he can’t turn it into dancing, I won’t receive beauty if I don’t let go of the ashes, and that shame will stay with me and I’ll never see glory if I don’t release it to Him. I mean, He can do all of these things without my trading up, but what would be the point? We have a worldly saying that says, “no pain, no gain”. It’s painful to give up our sorrows and shame. For me, it’s not because I want to carry them around, but because I know the scripture, to much is known, much is required. If I give those things up for better things, what will the Lord require of me? The Bible tells us to do justly and love mercy. That doesn’t seem all that hard.
The other chorus that was rolling this morning was, “You turn graves into gardens, you turn bones into armies, you turn seas into highways, you’re the only one who can”. That got me to thinking about Peter and how he stepped out onto the water. That sea was turned into a highway for him to walk on. It was only when he took his eyes off of Jesus that he began to sink. How many times in my life does Jesus say, “come”? How many times am I afraid of sinking? How many times do I not believe that he can turn that sea into a highway for me to feel stable on? The answer, a lot!
For me, this song is such an encouragement and declaration of my love for God. I sing it with such adoration for my creator. I hope that it encourages you and brings you to a place of worship like it does for me.
My Daily Song 