When your soul sits between fear and faith, God can use a worship song to win you over to Him.
I love music.
It can change my world with just a few bars into a song.
When it comes to worship music, it takes me beyond the here and now. Worship music actually transports me straight up to God, when I’ve gotten preoccupied with life on earth.
Last night, after snagging a babysitting swap with another couple, Hubby and I were able to make it to Worship Leader and Songwriter Paul Baloche’s concert here in Silicon Valley.
I’ve never met Paul, but one of his songs holds special significance in my journey to write. My Reward was inspirational to me when I decided to launch Faith Barista.
I had been excited about the idea, but thought maybe I didn’t have anything to say that was worth reading about?
Nothing To Writing
Writing is a very vulnerable endeavor. If you really want to say something, it has to come from an honest place that you can’t protect. You must reach in and offer a piece of yourself as a gift to the reader. Even though you don’t know how it will be received.
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” Ernest Hemingway
Life is like writing.
It bleeds worship.
We give ourselves as gifts to the people in our lives —
— when we attempt to make or mend friendships
— when we move into a job that may not be our first choice but it is our best choice
— when we get up every morning to parent, to care-give, to nurture community as singles, to be best friends and lovers to our spouses
— when we explore our callings and find twists and turns.
Crystal Clear
I was overwhelmed with indecision when Paul’s song My Reward came on the radio. It became crystal clear.
I want to hear You say the words to me “well done"
I want to hear You say “good and faithful servant"
I want to hear You say “I've prepared a place for you"
Let all the treasures of this world fade away
Jesus, You are my reward
To hear Your voice on that day is all I'm living for
Jesus, You are my reward
To see Your face on that day is all I'm living for"
Lyrics to "My Reward" by Paul Baloche
Jesus is my reward.
It won’t matter in the end —
— where our words end up or how they are received.
— whether the love, care, or heart we give out is treasured or discarded by others.
What matters in the end is who we are living for — Jesus.
What matters is why we are giving ourselves away — for Jesus.
Jesus did not hold back an emotion or drew back from risk. He exposed Himself to the judgment of men, surrendering Himself to the cross, where He hung — bleeding emotionally and physically — vulnerable for everyone could see.
Through the simple, beautiful lyrics, my struggle ceased.
Writing no longer served as a personal pursuit.
Writing became my expression of treasuring Jesus and learning to walk with Him. The joy of this conviction continues to satisfy my deepest desires and sweep away my greatest fears.
DJ Yourself Tonight
In the end, after all that’s been said and done by you and me, Jesus will be there to welcome and embrace us.
Is your soul struggling between your fears and God’s calling for you to trust Him?
Spend some time, listening to songs of worship that bring your soul to Jesus.
Better yet, “waste” some time tonight and DJ yourself the worship songs that have played a special part along your journey of faith.
Travel back in time and remember God’s goodness, His faithfulness. How He spoke to you through song and lyric.
God can use a song again today, to inspire you to take one step you may otherwise be hesitant to make — and open up your journey of faith.
“Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” Psalm 33:3
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How has God used worship songs to feed your soul?
Share a worship song that has touched your soul?
(psst… Scroll to the bottom of today’s post to see and hear Paul Baloche sing My Reward.)
Pull up a chair. I love company and enjoy hearing your thoughts. Click to share a comment.
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13 Comments
oh i love this, Bonnie! I love music that worships God and I can totally relate to how the music made by His worshipers help us enter into His throne room. One of the most beautiful songs I have heard is “pure bride” by Leeland. It is all about Christ’s love for the Church. I cry every time I hear it and it makes me dream of Glory.
Dear Bonnie,
You capture it all so well, you know. I was hooked by the Hemingway quote. But the as I read on, I just found myself nodding in agreement to it all. I listen to Sirius’ The Message almost constantly. “Enough” is probably one of my current favorites, but it changes every few weeks. “Blessings” and “Step by Step” have been in the playlist too.
Thank you for another fabulous piece, for saying it all so gracefully.
What you let out in ink and pixels is really beautiful.
Hi Bonnie! I LOVE the Hemingway quote. It ministered to me! God uses music to touch me a lot of the time. Soaking in His presence always brings me back into alignment.
Some of my current favorites are:
I Love Your Presence by Jenn Johnson
One Thirst by Bethel Church
Give Me Faith by Elevation Worship
Worship transports me into the arms of Jesus.
I feel safe in worship, it is one of the few place I cry and let my bottled up emotions out. It is where God has cracked barriers surrounding me. When I allowed the tears and presence of God to surround me then healing happens.
Bleed on to the page, onto the screen… and this is why writing can feel so terrifying. Yet if He calls what choice but to obey?
I’m remembering an old Vineyard song called Surrender:
I’m giving You my heart, all that is within
I lay it all down, for the sake of You my King
I’m giving You my dreams, laying down my rights
I’m giving up my pride, for the promise of new life*
And I surrender all to You, all to You
And I surrender all to You, all to You
Yes! As a part of our team formation for our upcoming mission trip, we had to submit worship songs to include for our times of worship. Our youngest teammate, Hannah, blended them for a great cd, and we’ve all been listening to it since. The songs are from old and new, one so new that it was added at the last minute after we learned it in church one weekend. I treasure these songs!
My son had a defining moment in life, after he was challenged to think about what music he listened to when he was at the strongest point of faith/following God…I was blessed to hear he was listening to some of my favorites from a few years back…Rich Mullins, Caedmon’s Call, Waterdeep and Watermark… Beautiful melodies and meaningful, genuine lyrics that still draw me closer to His presence…
Thanks for the reminder…I’m going to have my computer set on Pandora, and make a Watermark Mix station to listen to…love that free service! (search for pandora.com, make an acct, create your own stations, and sync your smart phone to it so you can hear them anywhere!)
Have a blessed day!
Marina
http://marinaskitchentable.blogspot.com
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” Ernest Hemingway
Wow! I’ve never heard that quote before….but that is exactly how I feel when I write. I don’t write new posts everyday…only when I feel led. I’ve always felt like it was therapy for me to write. It’s like the Holy Spirit is there washing out what I’m holding on the inside, and it just flows out through my fingertips.
Thanks Bonnie! As always God has used as an inspiration for me.
Sweet Bonnie, I love what you said about music and how it holds significance in your life. The same is true for me. Music has helped me write in so many ways and it’s one of my greatest joys.
What you shared about writing being about “bleeding” and then pointing my attention to Jesus bleeding out, sacrificing Himself–wow! That was such a great vision of what life we’re called to live. I hope that sticks with me.
Rich blessings this weekend, my friend.
I couldn’t agree more! When I look back over my life, music has been the way God has spoken to me more times than I could even begin to count. My favorite moments are when those songs come back into my head just when I need them most, to provide direction, comfort, or advice-that I know is God’s way of guiding me.
I long for the day we sit before the throne and sing in praise together to our Father in joy in our pain and disease free bodies! It is hard to imagine the beauty of the music we will be making. In the meantime, I revel in the glimpses of this time that we get in the power filled magic of an amazing worship song.
Thank you for creating this post, I have really looked forward to taking a ‘time out’ each day to reflect on the topics you have brought up. God is using your words to reach all of us who are following your posts-bless you for listening to his call to start it!
Bonnie,
Love today’s post. So true what you shared about writing. When God called me to write I knew vulnerability and full exposure were essential to reach and impact lives for the Kingdom. I had to be for real and very transparent. When you write from the straight from the heart it’s like blood pouring onto the page. What a wonderful journey it is to walk with Jesus and share with others.
Abundant Blessings…
Hello Bonnie:
I am a very new subscriber having received a post to your site on facebook from a friend whom I have not yet met.:o)
The first day I read it, it was about the God Who Sees, I felt ministered to as I read it and wrote to my facebook friend that I had just written those words in a poem this week. I am 83 years old, a Canadian, although most of my grandchildren are Americans as are both my daughters now.
I started writing poetry when I was 14 and then many more after I came to know the Lord when I was 20, in 1948 and attending Nyack College, at Nyack N.Y. I am a shut-in a lot of the time and don’t do much shopping. So this Christmas, I thought I would give my kids a booklet of “my story” (The Day I Died) and also include a number of my poems. I thought this might let them know me as a person, rather than just as Mom or Grandma. Some of the poems I could not find and I never memorized most of them. So this most recent one I remembered the first couple of verses but wanted to complete the thought, so wrote a little note and then finished the poem from where I am now in my walk with our wonderful Lord Jesus. I think that it is great that you are sharing your faith with others via the Internet and I’m glad I found you.
My husband died – very suddenly and tragically almost 17 months ago. Today would have been our 22nd wedding anniversary. Music – worship music – has been a key in my healing and grief. Just today I was listening to Bebo Norman – who was always playing in my husbands car…and Steven Curtis Chapman – See (from Beauty Will Rise). I am pulled into worship and I can sing because of the promises of God – which are all “yes” in Christ!
Still by Hillsong popped in my head right now. When our oldest son joined the Navy at 19 in 2002. 9/11 was still very present for us. He wanted to serve our country. Then he calls regarding his 1st tour to say he’s being sent to Saudi Arabia. I was calm on the phone, but as soon as we hung up. I put on my Hillsong C.D. and when this song came on I was a pool of mushy goo. God took me through and then relieved my fears all in one song.