Wait

I love, love, love that moment when I hear a song and there is something about it that triggers instantaneous worship in my heart. One minute I’m listening to the radio nonchalantly, and the next thing I know I’m in full worship mode: hands raised, eyes closed, spirit soaking in the message.

I have been a fan of Mumford & Sons since I first heard one of their singles a few years ago, and when they released their newest song off of their upcoming album recently, worship mode was exactly where I found myself. Their newest song, I Will Wait, is one full of thoughtful poetic verses and a chorus that sweeps you up in it's heartfelt simplicity. When I read through the lyrics, I see the narrator coming to God in exhaustion, and then waiting in His presence to see what He will do next. My favorite part is the bridge, almost to the end, that says:

Raise my hands / Paint my spirit gold / And bow my head / Keep my heart slow 

'Cause I will wait / I will wait for you

Sometimes we get too eager for God to work in our lives, and start doing things in our own time, without properly waiting for His plan to come to fruition. Isaiah prays in chapter 64 verse 4, "For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!" Sometimes God needs you to be patient and wait for His works and blessings to come forth. 

It's a wonderful song - listen to the full thing below.

Closing Time

 Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.

I’m a sucker for 90s music, and this particular Semisonic track has been in my head a lot lately. I keep hearing it on the radio and my Pandora stations and each time this line sticks out to me. It’s a simple line, sung in a nonchalant way, but carries such meaning. Wherever there is a fresh, new start, there is also a death and an end.

Paul says in Galatians 2:20, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I that lives, but Christ in me” (NLT). In order to live in the fullness of Christ, he had to let his former self be crucified and stripped away. He couldn’t be Saul any longer, he was now Paul. When Jacob wrestled with God, he was forever changed and from then on went by the name Israel. Before Jesus could bless us with his salvation, He had to be dead for three days. In each case, they had to stop  going in the direction they had been and start over - a new beginning, from some other beginning’s end.

Dear Jesus, help us to remember that in order for a new beginning to take hold, we must let things come to an end.

Everlasting Light

I know that there are some Christians who only listen to Christian music, and while I respect their choice or conviction, I find too much inspiration in "secular" music to turn my back on rock, indie, pop, and all the other genres out there. I doubt that some of the songs I am encouraged by where written with that intention, but as Jesus says, "Anyone who is not against us is for us (Mark 9:40, NLT)" - so I take inspiration wherever I can find it. 


I'm a fan of the band The Black Keys (as an Ohioan, it's practically required) and a song with lyrics I particularly love is Everlasting Light. The first verse goes like this: 

Let me be your everlasting light
The sun when there is none
I'm a shepherd for you
And I'll guide you through
Let me be your everlasting light

I'm sure it was written as a love song between a man and a woman, but with lyrics like that, I can't help but imagine Jesus saying them to one of His children. The second verse continues:

Let me be your everlasting light
Your home when there is cold
In me you can confide
When no one's by your side
Let me be your everlasting light

When everything else is cold and dark, Jesus is there to guide us and be our confidant. Let Jesus be your home, your shepherd, your guide, your sun - because what he really wants is to be your everlasting light.