How is it that a song you've heard dozens of times...a verse you've
read before...a story you know by heart...can suddenly touch something
in your spirit? Suddenly, without anything done on your part, you're
drawn into His throne room, seeing things you've only ever dreamed of
before, knowing that your heart and your life is even now being
changed, feeling the touch of your Maker and Restorer.
I am under the awe of that right now, yet again because of a song.
Those who have followed my blog for a while have probably noticed that learning to hear God's voice has been a
recurring theme for the last year and a half. If you read
my makeover story, though, you'll notice that this journey began eight years ago when I realized that God actually talked to
me, amazing fact that this is!
In February of this year I
posted that I was hearing His voice more than I ever have, and you'll notice that this year was
full of posts that touched on this.
But
I never shared what God told me, and it wasn't 'till today that He gave
me the words that crystallized how this works in my life.
He
told me that, if I wanted to hear and recognize His voice the way I
claimed I wanted to, that I needed to get in His word more often. He
pointed out how I recognized His voice more easily when I'd been His
word more frequently. Yet when I allowed distractions to distance me
from His word, my hearing grew dim as well.
And it's true. I've
seen it all year long. This past month, I have found myself in awe at
how I am now hearing Him. I suppose that, after so many years of
begging, I'd begun to wonder if my request would ever be granted.
But
it's so simple. Just as most musicians need something that holds a
perfect key to tune their instruments to, so my heart needs something
to tune it. Only then will it know what it's listening for.
I am
sure that this is different for everyone. I've known Christians who
could easily recognize God's voice from the time they first got saved,
while many others who accepted salvation as children have the same
struggle I have.
All I know is that Jesus is, once again, my answer. For He
is the Word of God, and His Word is my heart's tuning fork.
And that is why this song has touched my soul today. It's on the same CD as the
last song I posted. The words start out:
Standing here, in Your presence
Thinking of the good things You have done
Waiting here, patiently
Just to hear Your still small voice again
...and my heart sings because I am learning just how precious that is...precious enough to invest my time to gain.
And
then the music changes, and the keyboardist in me recognizes that the
notes that are played here are inspired. They portray the simple power
beauty of that still small voice. And the words change to the
awe-inspired acknowledgment of who this God is who speaks to us of
mysteries and truth and beauty and power and of everything that is Him:
Holy
Righteous
Faithful to the end
Savior
Healer
Redeemer and Friend
The chorus is quite simple:
I will worship You for who You are
I will worship You for who You are
I will worship You for who You are
Jesus
And the bridge:
My soul’s secure
Your promise sure
Your love endures
Always...
I will worship You for who You are...