As I sit in my room, listening to the song, Even When It Hurts by Hillsong UNITED, I can't help but let the tears roll from my eyes, down my cheeks. Just to think about everything I have gone through in life from every lie ever spoken about me which God vindicated me from, to every obstacle I endured and overcame. When my back was against the wall and I didn't think I would make it, I couldn’t help but cry because I made it. I was still able to overcome it. With just a small breath left in me, when it felt like just a small glimmer of hope, I was still able to cry out to God. I was able to praise God even through tears, hurt, pain, and even in the midst of confusion. Even when what was in front of me didn't look promising at all. I still made it! I'm here. I am still alive, and I still sing His praises over and over.
Now, to the naked eye, it may appear as if I do "too much" or it may seem like "it doesn't take all that" but nobody has walked in my shoes or seen what I had to go through mentally, emotionally, or even spiritually to even walk this thing out called life. These hands, these feet, the sound of praise which rumbles through my belly is between God and me, and to be quite honest, it doesn't matter when people stare, snicker, or even question it because the truth of the matter is that it takes all that and then some! Many times, I feel like David when he praised God right out of his clothes and was later criticized by his own wife Michal! Deep down I can not only relate but I believe she couldn't bear to see David succeed and was not meant to go where God needed David to go. It's like that sometimes—some relationships expire as you begin to elevate and draw closer to God. Everyone can't go where God needs you to go.
Before David made it home, we see in 2 Samuel 6 how David took his relationship with God to the next level! Every 6 steps he took, he brought God a sacrifice and praise. That's the kind of praiser I desire to always be. For every 6 steps which I take in my life, I want to give God a sacrifice and praise Him for what He's brought me out of, what He has been doing, and for what He will do! It's through my sacrifices and my praise that mountains have bowed down, walls have fallen, and chains have been broken, not only in my life but in the lives that are connected to me and reading this. What will you do every 6 steps of your life?
Worship is a lifestyle, and it took me quite some time to adjust to this type of lifestyle. I am in no way perfect—we wouldn't need Jesus if we were! The point I drive is in order to see God's hand, we have to move out of the way, refocus and trust Him even when it makes no sense. When we get to a place where we can give Him praise regardless of what it may look like it shows maturity. Think about it, what does stress do for any situation? NOTHING! When we look to God, when we praise our way through, we take our focus off the situation and put our trust in God and God alone--not the doctor's report, not what the critics or naysayers are talking about but GOD and His FAITHFULNESS!
I am here to not only share a little bit of my journey but to tell you, even when it hurts, sing a song unto the LORD. Sing in your pain, sing in your gladness, when it looks like all hope is lost just sing His praises. Maybe you cannot carry a tune, maybe you're a bit shy (like myself when it comes to singing) it doesn't matter. Let your heart burn after Him and let your heart sing unto Him. What matters is what's in your heart. I've heard people who didn't know how to sing, but when they expressed the words from their hearts it penetrated my soul because you could hear their hearts singing to the LORD. I've heard people who could sing but the words were just simply words—nothing changed, but when you sing from the depths of your soul something happens...it changes our surroundings and our focus—it releases worship to the Father.
Did you know we are our biggest critic? Even in writing this, it feels like I'm rambling on, but I know there's someone out there reading this, and it relates to where they are, have been, or will go. I must continue to allow my voice to be like a pen of a ready writer. Making it plain for all to see so that they can read it as they go. So, with this, may today be a day where you will only sing His praise—even when it hurts.
May the blessings of the LORD shower you and may a fresh new song spring forth from your heart to the LORD.
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