Follow You

Simply put, I adore this song.

Leeland and Brandon Heath’s lyrics describe the heartbeat of what I hope my life is, the impact I desire to have.

I want to follow Him.  I want to reach out and help people encounter Jesus, not the hokey-made-up-religious Jesus, but the life-altering, heart-holding, walks-with-me-talks-with-me, compassionate feels-our-hurts Man who saved my life.  And yours (even if you don’t know it yet).

Jesus has saved me from unspeakable pain.  He’s rescued me from deep darkness, from a pit of despair it took a decade to climb out of.  Just this past year I’m seeing bursts of light everywhere!  How could I have missed this?  The world is full-color, after all, a truth I once relied on others to paint for me.  I was unaware of life’s beauty then.  My reality differed.

But all that’s changed.

This is no Interwebs pity party, mind you, so please don’t break out the tissues.  This is a CELEBRATION!  Of all He’s done for me.  Of all He’s done and doing for you!  This song encapsulates that — it captures my heart in a beautiful melody.

My old music faves depress me now.  They used to be my mantras, for years.  My how God’s moved and changed and healed my heart!

He continues to more each day.  He brightens my life.  I never have to go back to that pit!  He’s shown me freedom, what tangled me up in the dark, and how to show others the way out.

And that’s the message of this song.

Once you’re free, you never wanna revisit old places.  Leave them dead and buried.  You have new horizons to explore!  You have PEOPLE to reach with His hope.

If someone saved your life, all you’d wanna do is tell others what they did.  Spread their love and share your gratitude!

And if they risked their life for you, you would likely be so stunned, so grateful, you would want to serve them somehow.  Give them something, anything, to “pay them” what you really can’t return.

But what if Someone didn’t risk their life for you.  They GAVE it.  They died so you would spring to life.  What would you do then?  And what if they died for your friends too?  Your neighbors?

I imagine you’d tell others about this person who died in your place, and theirs.  Everywhere.  As much and as often as you can.  Who does that, after all?  Who dies so that someone else may live?

We all know… Jesus did.

At times when I lose this “Gospel saving” perspective, I have only to turn on this song and sing the words.  They remind me of my heart’s true desire, where I’ve lost focus in my life.  They re-orient me to my life’s mission.

I want to follow Him …… into the world, into broken people’s homes.  But I want to leave there ……. with chains dangling from my hands, the chains of people once in bondage.  People who can know the freedom I, too, now know.

Don’t you?

Thank You loving Father for rescuing me.  Where would I be without Your grace?  Make this song my life.  I want to help bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, the year of Jubilee to those who are bound.  Help me, Father.  Enable me to be like You, Jesus.  Empower me Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ precious name I pray, amen.

My Deliverer, You Set Me Free…

Confession!

This Mandisa song used to seriously annoy me.  It seemed uber cheesy. 

Confession over :)

Today her words rang in my ears (against my will)… but then I realized how relevant they are in my life today.  Ready — steady – go!

I was so helpless
Where did the light go
I had no hope left
Deep down in my soul
I was watchin
I was waitin
I was prayin
I was stayin down on my knees
That’s right where You found me

My Deliverer, You rescued me from all that held me captive
My Deliverer, You set me free
Now I’m alive and I can live
So every moment I will give You praise
My Deliverer

There’s no pretending
I can’t do it myself
I’m so dependent
Lord I need Your help
I’ll be watchin
I’ll be waitin
I’ll be prayin
I’ll be stayin down on my knees
That’s right where You’ll find me

My Deliverer, You rescued me from all that held me captive
My Deliverer, You set me free
Now I’m alive and I can live
And every moment I will give You praise 

‘The Beast Within’

“The winner of this battle is simply decided by which wolf we feed.”

God’s been speaking to me about this lately… and then suddenly, there it was today in black & white: the beast within! 

We have two sides.  The question is, which one are we feeding – our selfish desires or our spirit within us?  Because when tough times come, the stronger one will rise up and react.  Am I feeding cravings for pleasure, unrestrained rage, a loose tongue that cuts down others and speaks death over my circumstances?  Or am I feeding forgiveness, purity in my thoughts and how I treat others, faith in the midst of fears, and hope despite odds stacked against me?  (Ahem, this post is for me as much as it may be for you!)

Let’s must keep in mind that we can’t tame this beast alone.  Sure, we may be able to discipline ourselves for a time — outwardly at least.  But self-imposed discipline can’t cure the problem!  Col. 2:20-23 says:

Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

These commands lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence — any!  We can’t rein this beast in ourselves.  We must simply ask God for grace to help us! 

Are you struggling with parents, kids, an ’inconsiderate, lazy, critical’ spouse or boss?  A coworker or friend that sucks the life outta you and uses you for gain?  An addiction?  Finances?  A lack of joy?  Waning health, despite having ‘tried everything’?  Been there! 

Ask God for TODAY’S GRACE.  It’s your daily portion!  Pray to your Abba Father who sees and truly cares:

“Please give me my daily bread, Father.  I need incredible grace to deal with this.  Your Word promises I can come boldly before Your throne to obtain grace and mercy in time of need.  I am in need!  Thank You Father for providing exceptional, overflowing, more-than-I-need grace.  Thank You that I’m victorious.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen!”

Pray.  And believe!  I am right there with you clinging to hope, believing for things I’ve waited on for years.  I’m so thankful I don’t have to live each year at a time – just daily. 

Thank You Father for Your daily bread.  Thank You that You’ve apportioned it for us before today arrived – before our tire blew out and we didn’t have money to cover it.  Before we were betrayed by someone we loved with our whole lives.  Before illness struck.  Before my spouse left, or my business hit rock bottom. 

Your grace is sufficient for me, for Your power is perfected in my weakness.  Thank You Lord that this is true in my life right now.  You know how desperately I needed this today.  You are awesome.  You are mighty.  And You are bigger than this. Your provision is waiting in the wings.