"rejoice, worship and hear God's voice"

Thursday, June 29, 2017 (6:24 a.m.)

Good Morning God,

(6:40 a.m.)

Hmm... We are called to 'rejoice, worship and hear Your voice' (Psalm 95 Illustrated Bible Handbook). I WANT to, Father. I really do!

My mind starts singing ♫Come, Let Us Worship and Bow Down, Let us kneel before the Lord, our God, our Maker♫ Yet my attitude seems more along the lines of “Yeah, yeah. Sure, sure.”

Grousing seems to come so easily to me. I can think of so many things to grumble and complain about. Thank You that because You designed me (Psalm 139:13-18), none of this surprises You.

This morning I come before You with a truly grateful heart. Albeit one that is currently covered in gunk. My energy is low. Patience? Practically non-existent.

Coming before You and bowing down is what I long to do. And then my mind jets off in another direction.

Hold me here Father. Speak to me that I would clearly hear Your Truth. Your promises. Your warnings.

There is definitely a stubbornness inside me that resembles a five year old with balled up fists retorting, “Yeah? So!” THAT is not what I long to offer You.

I see Your blessings to me. Your kindnesses. Your goodness. I don't mean to follow them with, “And what about...?”

You are good. Oh yes Blessed God! You are good!

Thank You!!! Thank You that in giving in to Your call I find Your peace. Not in desperately seeking Your peace. No. In giving in to all You are!

Thank You that I am here, with tears in my eyes and soul, wholeheartedly crying out to You in song ♫You are good, You are good When there's nothing good in me You are love, You are love On display for all to see You are light, You are light When the darkness closes in You are hope, You are hope You have covered all my sin♫

Oh most Holy God and Father how I DO truly rejoice in Who and All You are!

♫You are peace, You are peace When my fear is crippling You are true, You are true Even in my wandering You are joy, You are joy You're the reason that I sing You are life, You are life In You death has lost its sting♫

Father, thank You for knowing every single thing there is to know about me. And loving me anyway.

♫Oh, I'm running to Your arms I'm running to Your arms The riches of Your love Will always be enough Nothing compares to Your embrace Light of the world Forever Reign♫

How truly blessed we are to have You to rejoice and worship. Thank You that in so doing we DO get to hear Your voice.

♫You are more, Your are more Than my words will ever say You are Lord, You are Lord All creation will proclaim You are here, You are here In Your presence I'm made whole You are God, You are God Of all else I'm letting go♫

Oh yes, blessed Father! I sing these words and again am taken to the freedom I find in swimming. Not fully understanding the mechanics of it all, I do know that it's when we struggle and fight, we sink and when we rest and trust, we float.

Yes Father. Swimming comes naturally to me. Something I was taught early in life and have played with [enjoyed!] always. That's what I want my trust and relationship with You to resemble. Something as natural as breathing. Something I don't have to try hard to remember. Something deep within, that just truly IS!

As I run to Your arms, trusting, believing, having faith that ♫Nothing compares to Your embrace♫ make it so that ♫My heart will sing no other Name Jesus, Jesus♫

Lord, You ARE the Light of the world! The One to whom I truly ♫Come [to] Worship and Bow Down♫ Before Whom I absolutely kneel. My heart. My soul. My mind. And my strength (Mark 12:30).

You are our God. The Lord, Our God, our Maker (Psalm 95:6). And we are the people You care for, Your sheep that walk by Your side. The ones who get to listen to Your voice today (Psalm 95:7 Easy-to-Read Version).

Oh yes! Make it so Blessed God. Make it so! Thank You that we get to love, worship and adore You. Teach us even more I pray. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(743 words ~ 8:04 a.m.)