Sing

God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, Job 35:10 I think we all have those days and times when we don't "feel" like praying, praising, singing, or reading Scripture. Our emotions are leading us. If we follow them, they'll take us ever further from His Presence. In these times, in these desolate places, we need to believe that He is the God of desolate places. At root, we need to choose to believe He is who He says He is. We need to surrender to His Truth and not to our emotions. Maybe you're in such a place right now. Nothing about your circumstances, needs, or what seems to be points you to Him. It all points away from Him. It is here that we're faced with a choice; will we run towards Him, or will we run from Him? Don Moen is a worship leader that I listened to a lot back in the 90's, a time when He was reshaping what I believed about worship. I began to learn how He was able to lift me above what I might be feeling and into the realm of where He was. It was then that I began to understand what John had gone through on the Island of Patmos, a prison island. His emotions, feelings, and spirit had to have been at a low ebb, but he heard the Holy Spirit calling him to look up, not down or around, but up....to Him. As He did so, he saw a door opened into the throne room of his God and Father. He saw everything from the perspective of His throne room. Things as they really were and not how they seemed to be. True reality is not found here in this passing realm, but in eternity. In that which never passes away. I just watched a video featuring Moen, singing a song simply titled, "I Will Sing." His song spoke to all I've just written. Despite his heartache, his questions, his crushing emotions, and his fading desire to go to his Father, he would sing. He would pray. He would praise, and because he would, he, like John on Patmos, would also see that door unto His throne room opened as well. So will we. He knows we, like His Son, Jesus Christ, will enter into desolate places. He wants us to discover that He is Lord of the desolate place. How we feel at a particular time doesn't change that. He challenges us to believe, to trust,.....and to sing, to pray, and to praise. When we do, if we will, we will see Him, and when we see Him, the words of the great hymn will come true for us; It is well with my soul. My friends, it is well because He is with us. You may be in the desolate place. Take heart. He's the Lord of every desolate place. Even yours. Blessings, Pastor O