I’m in a battle, and this week I’ve been reminded of it. I was praying and thinking through things when This Means War! by Petra from This Means War! (1987) came to mind. 

My enemy is unseen, but I can see what the enemy is up to. Every second the enemy tries to stop me from seeing God. And now that I see and know what the enemy wants me to do, I can stand against him.

Son of the morning – highest of all,
You had so much going till you took the fall,
Had a place in the glory but you wanted it all,
Impossible odds but you had the gall,
It seemed so unlikely that you would rebel,
Such a worthy opponent that you knew so well,
But you went down fighting when you heard the bell,
Took a third down from heaven when you went to hell…

This means war – and the battle’s still raging,
War – and though both sides are waging,
The Victor is sure and the victory secure,
But till judgment we all must endure,
This means war!

That’s my comfort, The victor is sure and the victory secure, the more I see the enemy, the harder he tries, but the greater God is.

Then came the cross – you thought you had won,
You thought you had conquered God’s only Son,
“So much for Jesus,” you said in jest,
Then you got a visit from an unwelcome guest,

Now it’s all over down to the wire,
Counting the days to your own lake of fire,
But you’ll go down fighting for all that you’re worth,
To try to abolish His image on earth…

Lord, may we always see Christ as the visible image of the invisible God. Help me to stand against the enemy and focus on you.

This Means War! – Petra

This week has been amazing! And difficult, thoughts have been racing around my mind and songs haven’t stayed in my mind. But yet in the midst of all this internal confusion one single line from a song was able to resonate with me, not just once, but twice. The line comes from The Hurt & The Healer by MercyMe from The Hurt & The Healer (2012).

Just keep my eyes completely fixed on You, that was the line that clearly spoke to me twice in the past few days. It’s in the second verse, fourth line.

Why?
The question that is never far away,
The healing doesn’t come from the explained,
Jesus please don’t let this go in vain,
You’re all I have, all that remains…

So here I am,
What’s left of me,
Where glory meets my suffering…

I’m alive,
Even though a part of me has died,
You take my heart and breathe it back to life,
I’ll fall into Your arms open wide,
When the hurt and the healer collide.

Breathe,
Sometimes I feel it’s all that I can do,
Pain so deep that I can hardly move,
Just keep my eyes completely fixed on You,
Lord take hold and pull me through…

It’s the moment when humanity,
Is overcome by majesty,
When grace is ushered in for good,
And all our scars are understood,
When mercy takes its rightful place,
And all these questions fade away,
When out of the weakness we must bow,
And hear You say it’s over now.

Jesus come and break my fear,
Awake my heart and take my tears,
Find Your glory even here,
When the hurt and the healer collide.

I found comfort hard to find this last week, and this line was really hard to do at the time. Yet now as I listen thoroughly to the song I feel the emotions and pain throughout the song. I know it wasn’t meant to be easy, and I know it’s only going to get harder.

The Hurt  & The Healer – MercyMe

Overflow by Tenth Avenue North from Followers (2016) has been on my mind for a while. And I’ve consider sharing it earlier, but a different song always came that spoke to me a little more. But I must say that I don’t often have a song that’s consistently played over a month.

The message of this song has struck a chord in my life, and I know why. It talks about being so full with the love of God that, like a container overflowing, God’s love comes out of us in every thought, word and deed.

Out of the dust, You created us,
We are the breath of Father, Spirit, and Son,
We’re free to breathe, we’re free to move,
Life is a gift that we give back to You,
Life is our gift we give back to You…

Life is a gift we give back to You, the truth of that line has always stood out to me. And I see how easy it can be to ignore the fact that every breath, every movement of our bodies is a gift from God. Truly understanding the greatness of God is something that makes me freely give my life back to the rightful owner.

You set our hearts in motion,
You’re alive inside us,
Our hands open up (hands open up),
We are made in the image of a perfect union,
We receive Your love and overflow,
We overflow.

It’s evident, that we were meant,
To live like grace is covering every step,
So we can risk and we can fall,
You’re over and you’re underneath of it all,
You’re over and you’re underneath of us all…

Let Your perfect love come and fill us up,
Till we can’t help but overflow…

I often see words, or passages in the Scripture as prayers to Our Father in Heaven, I see the bridge here as the same thing. Asking God to fill us with the love of Jesus Christ, so that we preach the Good News without even thinking about it because it naturally flows out of us.

Overflow – Tenth Avenue North

I enjoy finding great music from before my time. I got Shake (1995) by John Schlitt a week ago, and over this week I’ve really enjoyed listening to it and meditating on the still relevant message. The song that I’ve enjoyed most is Try Understanding His Heart.

As I’ve reflected on 2019 the change in my life is very apparent, and I think that goes back to something I started on the last day of 2018. I started reading five Psalms and a chapter of Proverbs each day, and then because I liked Psalm 119 so much I decided to read it every night.

Psalms is often referred to as the heart of the bible, and a lot were written by a man after God’s own heart. And as I read through the Psalms, different verses stand out and impact me each day. I’m seeking more of God, and knowing that my heart now aligns closer to His.

So many memories, they color what you see,
Try to forget, but they don’t go away,
Keep searching for escape,
Some move that you can make,
To help you make it through just one more day,
Why do you try to make it all on your own?
Why can’t you understand you’re never alone?

Try understanding His heart,
His love for you, it is never ending,
Try understanding His heart,
It has for you enough mercy, grace,
And strength for you to face it all,
Understand His heart.

You know you’ve made mistakes, you said it’s way too late,
Think now that no one cares, all your bridges are burned,
Don’t listen to those lies,
Don’t have to compromise,
It’s time you realize, there’s so much to learn,
Don’t let your circumstances dictate the show,
There is a better way, this you should know…

With Him there is a strength to carry on,
He paid the price, He sacrificed,
His love is there for you,
He wants to help you through,

Now what you gonna do?
You know it’s up to you,
He wants to take command,
And He’s up for the fight,
Don’t try to run away,
He has so much to say,
It’s what you need to hear,
It’ll change your life!

I pray that this year I’ll be able to reach out more. Lord, thank you for the understanding and love for you that you’ve grown in my heart, and now I’d like opportunities to share it with others.

Try Understanding His Heart – John Schlitt

This week’s a bit different, because what I’m sharing isn’t actually a song. It’s from Jeremy Camp’s Live album in 2009. And it’s the part where he takes a break from singing and talks to the audience.

There’s a Scripture that I love because it shows me how much God loves me in spite of who I am and we were talking about it today. We were doing a bible study and we were talking about it. It’s in John. It says that God demonstrates His own love to us that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. So that means he knows everything about you, He knows everything about me and He still loves us.

I think its one of those things where (I’m saying to) God lately in my heart, Lord please, I’m tired of myself, I’m tired of so many times trying to build up my little kingdoms that I have here.

You see the thing is we are not here at all, at all to build our kingdoms.We are here solely for the purpose of building the Kingdom of God. That’s it, that’s it.

Lord, I want to do whatever you want me to do. Surrender my all unto you … I look at what’s going on … and my heart like never before has been urgent, has been desperate for this generation. 

There’s a lot of distractions, almost numbing us to the fact that we are in desperate need, in desperate need of a Saviour. Because we have filled ourselves up with so many things of this earth. There’s a generation out there, there are people out there that are hurting, that are broken.

We’re called to reach out, each and everyone of us. Matthew 5 says that you are the light of the world, let your light shine among men, they may glorify you Father in heaven.

And this song is called Speaking Louder Than Before, and we all know that actions speak louder than words. When you’re serving someone, loving someone, showing them Christ, speaks volumes.

And you guys, read your bibles. Read your bibles. This is not just our Christian duty, this is the word of God. In Hebrews 4 it says its living and its active. I mean it’s doing something in out hearts.

Surrender all, surrender all. Before he can work through you he has to work in you. Fall more in love with Jesus, so you can tell the world more and more about your saviour and how he is.

I like how Jeremy starts with sin and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Then he moves on to the application which ties in nicely with the album Speaking Louder Than Before (2008).

But, as I reflect on my journey of learning application, I wonder if Jeremy got the order wrong. The last paragraph was the starting point for me. God worked in me first. And that was through simply reading my bible a lot. And now that I am so in love with Christ I can’t help but see distractions, shine a light and show others Christ.

Jeremy is a big inspiration in my life, and his words here are no exception. Even ten years after they were spoken, I still feel their relevance. I don’t know what more to say, except get his Live album for yourself. I’ve probably left out half of everything he said on that recording and Jeremy fleshes out much of what I’ve recorded here.

Speaking Louder Than Before – Jeremy Camp

This week’s song has changed a lot, it’s been more like a daily song. So after week where it changed daily, the song today is Here In This Moment by Beckah Shae from LIFE (2010). And I wouldn’t be surprised if I’ve changed it by the end of this post.

In pursuit of Christ I see clearly all these distractions that can pull me away from God, and I only see them because I fell into the trap. God’s Word pulled me out and I’ve seen that earnestly seeking Him in prayer was a necessary step in allowing God to change me.

So here I am ready to have all of You,
So here I am waiting for You and…

Nothing can change the way I feel when I’m with You,
You give me a peace that surpasses all understanding,
And no one can tell me there’s a better place than with You,
You give love everlasting,

Oh, here You come,
With Your arms open wide,
Oh, cause You are the one,
Who fulfills all my desires…

You are love, You are life,
You’re the air that I breathe,
You’re my day and my night,
You’re my joy, You’re my peace,
You’re the wings for my flight,
And vision to my sight,
You are truth, You are power,
You gave me faith to believe,
Brought me straight to my knees,
Now I’m standing,
Here in this moment, with You,
There’s nowhere I’d rather be.

There’s only one who can truly satisfy me,
Only You can give me everything that I need,
And as high as the heavens are above the earth,
You’ve shown me your love so unconditionally,

There’s nothing that I can do without You,
I know life only because of Your love,
I just can’t breathe without You,
I’m so crazy about You,
And I know love only because of Your life,
Oh You overwhelm me with Your love,
Oh You overwhelm me, You overwhelm me!

Over the last week, God showed me humility as a gift. A gift from Him that sees everything as a gift from God. My girlfriend, my job, my food, my toothbrush, and life itself. There is nothing that I have without God. Even this song, I could not share it with you without God.

I pray I look to Christ as the ultimate example of humility, and always remain thankful for His grace.

Here In This Moment – Beckah Shae

Last week I searched my music for songs with ‘lead’ in the title and created a playlist. I knew a few songs that would be there (Lead Me On – Amy Grant and Lead Me – Sanctus Real), but the one I had completely forgotten, Lead Me To The Cross, by Newsboys from In The Hands Of God (2009) had the greatest impact.

For a song I’d forgotten about, I didn’t think it would impact me as much as it did. But at this time of year, and as I forget the sacrifice on the cross myself, I needed this song to pull me back to Christ.

Saviour I come,
Quiet my soul,
Remember,
Redemption’s hill,
Where your blood was spilled,
For my ransom,

One thing I’ve noticed myself doing lately is forgetting to thank God for sending Christ to pay for my sins. My life is shaped around this event, and I’m eternally grateful, which is why I want to show it when I pray. I want to start by thanking Christ for taking the punishment for me on the cross, and let everything else flow from that starting point.

Everything I once held dear,
I count it all as lost…

Lead me to the cross,
Where your love poured out,
Bring me to my knees,
Lord, I lay me down,
Rid me of myself I belong to you,
Oh, lead me, lead me to the cross.

I love the line Rid me of myself I belong to you, I know there are still parts that linger pridefully and arrogantly within me. I want them to go away, I belong to Christ and serve only Him, I don’t want any of me getting in the way.

You were as I,
Tempted and trialed,
Human,
Word became flesh,
Bore my sin and death,
Now you’ve risen,

To your heart,
To your heart,
Lead me to your heart,
To your heart…

Lord, my heart was bought at a price, help me to always remember this and thank You for it.

Lead Me To The Cross – Newsboys

I often lose focus, my mind wanders, and I get off track. There are so many dangers in my life that drag me into idle, purposeless behavior. Fix My Eyes by for KING & COUNTRY from Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. (2014) has reminded me this week how to focus my mind by looking up.

Hit rewind, click delete,
Stand face to face with the younger me,
All of the mistakes, all of her heartbreak,
Here’s what I’d do differently…

I’d love like I’m not scared,
Give when it’s not fair,
Live life for another,
Take time for a brother,
Fight for the weak ones,
Speak out for freedom,
Find faith in the battle,
Stand tall but above it all,
Fix my eyes on You, on You.

Fixing my eyes on Christ is hard to learn, even now I need reminders, but I’m so glad God has shown me grace enough to learn it, because other things have flowed from there. Things like, standing, believing, speaking, fighting, serving, living, giving and courage.

I learned the lines and talked the talk,
But the road less traveled is hard to walk,
It takes a soldier, who knows his orders,
To walk the walk I’m supposed to walk…

The things of Earth are dimming,
In the light of Your glory and grace,
I’ll set my sights upon Heaven,
I’m fixing my eyes on you, on you,
I’m fixing my eyes on you, on you,
I’m fixing my eyes…

“Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” – Colossians 3:2 It was about a year ago that I memorised chapter three of Colossians, that verse has been a great help in setting my focus and fixing my eyes.

Fix My Eyes – for KING & COUNTRY

This week I found myself listening to Casting Crowns album Only Jesus (2018) again and again. I remember one point where I just let everything go, my stress, fear and anger. The song playing when that happened was One More Song For You.

Staring at this old piano,
Playing through the memories that it holds,
Singing through the stories that it’s told,
And all the prayers that have been lifted,
The leaps of faith, the giants slain,
Desperate cries, and broken praise,

Have all the songs been sung?
Is there still room for one?

Often I wonder what I can give, even one step forward feels like two steps back. But music is so often the thing that brings my heart back to God. I find that music centered on God and Jesus Christ allows the Spirit to move in my life, challenging me, refining me and encouraging me.

Maybe one more hand in the air saying, “You are holy”,
One more shattered heart singing, “You are good”,
Maybe one more voice crying out for mercy,
One more hungry soul declaring, “You’re enough”,
As long as there’s breath in me,
Lord, there will always be,
One more song for You,
One more song for You.

What can I offer You but weakness?
All my life I tried to hide,
You brought it all into the light,
I’m still amazed that You would choose me,
If You can use the least of these,
Then there is no one You can’t reach,

In a world that’s lost its song,
Show them there’s still room for one…

Weakness is all I offer, and yet when I reflect on what God has blessed me with I’m amazed. Everything I have is because of God, and so I want to use the song in me to encourage others to find God.

With no one here but You to listen,
My heat is bursting at the seams,
Out of all the songs I’ve lifted,
What I truly hope to see,
Is one more broken life made whole,
One more prodigal brought home,
What better way to praise Your name and majesty,

Than one more hand in the air saying, “You are holy”,
One more shattered heart singing, “You are good”,
Maybe one more voice crying out for mercy,
One more hungry soul declaring, “You’re enough”,
As long as there’s breath in me,
Lord, there will always be,
One more song for You,
One more song for You.

One More Song For You – Casting Crowns

The more I learn, the more I read, the more I serve, the less shame I feel in living for Christ. Unashamed by Building 429 from Unashamed (2015) has become a real anthem for me in the past week as I go out, bearing my Saviour’s name.

I am unashamed,
I am unashamed.

I’ve been down and broken,
But I believe what you’ve spoken,
You make all things new,
I’ve witnessed your mercy,
Stirred up all of your glory,
And none compared to you,
I can’t help but speak of the things you’ve done,
So let my life proclaim…

I’m way more broken than most, everyday. Each morning God shows me His glory, and my day flows from there. I love the line I can’t help but speak of the things you’ve done, I pray that I can’t help but speak of Christ’s unfailing love.

I am unashamed,
I won’t hide your name,
So all the world will know,
That you,
You are all that I live for,
Jesus,
I am unashamed.

Where your hands are reaching,
Is where you’ll always find me,
‘Cause your love makes me move,
To speak the words you’re speaking,
To be the hope the world has needed,
In everything I do,
Here in the light of what you’ve done,
Let my life proclaim…

At first I was nervous, I was nervous to go out and speak for Christ. But I’ve learnt that God is always there. His love for this world is what encourages me to speak, pray and serve in the earth He made.

So let the waters rise,
Let the mountains shake,
We lift our anthem high,
Unashamed.

youtube.com/watch?v=qe7IgvA6Pm4

Unashamed – Building 429