Songs pt. 3 (2021)

 It's amazing how the Holy Spirit uses music to bypass our human logic and go straight to the heart. 

Thank You (Maverick City) - God put in the work for each one of our hearts. He knows what we need and He works so gently. He has changed me so much, and it is wild to remember who I've been at different points of my life. He's made it so easy to be myself, and He is continuing to work in me. That's crazy to me that even though I feel the most connected to Him than I've ever been, I am going to be more connected to Him in the future, I am still growing. I love that. I am so grateful that He does all the work that I could never do, that none of us could do. We need Him, and He responds to our neediness. He will help us as much as we will let Him. Isaiah 41:13 says "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand,..., Fear not; I will help thee." Does that not sound like a father coming with grace and understanding? We are so cared for. He's the best, and so much more than we can even know now, than we can understand. We haven't even seen how good He is. 

More to Me - If our priorities are disordered, then our life will be out of balance. It is truly in our best interest to put God first, to seek Him before anything, to put Him on the only pedestal in your heart. He is the most important relationship you will ever have, and it has to be protected. One way that I have done that every morning, I spend time focusing on Him with whatever I have. Some mornings it is small, some mornings I am tired and have a hard time focusing, but I still show up and give what I have. He comes first, both figuratively and literally. There has to be a practice that backs up my claims of "God comes first", otherwise it is just empty words with good intentions. It won't build a relationship. The more I read the Bible and get to know God, the easier it is to make Him my strongest priority. 

Remember - This past year, the importance of meditating on the crucifixion was impressed upon me by the Holy Spirit. That is the crescendo of salvation, it is the promise and the fulfillment of God's great love. It's hard to be confused about who God is in my life, in each moment, when I remember the cross. It also tells us who we are meant to be, what we are drawn into. I also just want to honor Jesus's sacrifice, remembering what He did, not allowing it to become a casual afterthought or a given. He owed us nothing, but He did the most. He gave fully of Himself. I don't want to forget that.

No one Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus - When I listen to this song, I feel very keenly how precious and unique this relationship. We won't find anything close anywhere else. It's so precious. 

Christ the Lord Is With Me - We need Jesus so much. There is so much relief in knowing that no matter how hard or painful something is, we are not alone, we do not bear it alone. He shares our burdens, He takes them on, gives us rest, and uses it for glory. Nothing can take us from Him, not even our own stupidity. All it takes is a moment's thought, a second of invitation, of returning our focus to Him, and He sweeps in in whatever way we most need. Even in the silly parts of your day, like making breakfast, or working out, or playing games with your family, He is with us. The Bible does not lie when it says that He is an ever-present friend in time of need, and that we are meant to be one with Him. It's not exaggerating when it says that the branch can't bear fruit apart from the Vine. He is everything.

I Thank God - When I stop and think about how God has actually changed me and my life, it's a little surreal. Like, I Have the Holy Spirit with me every day as a friend, bringing me wisdom and comfort and companionship and peace and freaking everything I need. God is all the Father I will ever need, He sees me and knows me completely, His breath in my lungs. Jesus's blood has quite literally saved me from eternal Hell and has brought me into family, into a lively hope. It's kind of stupid how much God has saved me, and I'm sure I don't even see the half of it. I have life because of Him!