From deep within

Our Daily Bread
After a concert in which I sang a solo, a friend came up to me and said "I love it when you sing a solo.  It sounds like it is coming from deep within!".  I didn't really think about it much until the next time I sang.  It was true and I never realized it.  Singing brings up feelings, hopes and dreams from parts of me that I can't always access with my conscious mind!

The devotional talks about the Psalms and how David (and other psalm writers) seem to express their deepest thoughts, fears, hopes, praises and other things that we have trouble expressing.  It is explainable since they are usually sung.  Songs can do that to us.  I am sure you noticed that I reference songs a LOT on this blog!

What song is welling up in your mind and heart?  Pray that song to God. Sing it to God.  Yes, he knows your deepest thoughts and desires.  He wants you to tell him anyway so you can share everything with Him!

Lord, thank you for the gift of music.  Please help us lift songs that can express things that we cannot say.

Simply Saturday
From deep within
God has been teaching me a lot lately.  I don't know if I wasn't paying attention before or that it has been so gradual that these things didn't come to my conscious mind.

First, there was a prayer session where God asked me something very specific.  If I had to make a choice about something, what would my choice be?  From deep within, a sincere and honest reply came out that surprised me.  I shared it with my best friend this morning.

Second, I had a situation come up that scared me a little, but my response was so sincere and loving and natural that I thought about it all day.  God gave me a new goal to be that loving and caring to everyone I meet, not just the folks that are special to me.  I have not always been that way with even the folks I care about very much.  God is teaching me how to treat and cultivate those that need and want me in their lives.  It is a different approach for this bear in a china shop kind of guy!

Lastly, God reminded me about listening.  Take a chill pill, breathe and listen.  He answered some very specific prayers this week in a variety of ways.  I felt special and very humbled by the experiences.  God really does know what is best for us.  It is not always easy to see that or to wait for the perfect time for what he has in store for us.  It is important to remember that our life circumstances cannot affect our joy in the Lord unless we allow them to!

Don't be afraid to sing your song to God.  Don't be afraid to share the hopes, dreams, feelings and fears from deep within.

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We too can know this God and be assured of His presence. He has revealed Himself in His creation and in His Word. As we ask Him to make Himself known to us, we’ll learn that He is even more than the owner and creator of everything! - Our Daily Bread web site