Be Still

So I’ve been feeling the urge to do a blog but honestly I’ve been too scared. Then I got reminded of doing one a few days ago and it’s been in my spirit but I haven’t had anything specific to say. I just started taking my first year of Covenant Life Seminary and we are required to read a book called “Dialogue With God” by Mark and Vicki Virkler (highly recommended).  We have learned how to communicate with God on more of a personal level than anything.  I couldn’t put this book down. It really helps you and teaches you how to turn off your mind and turn on your spirit and your heart in order to really hear the voice of God. Well, tonight I was going to give it a go and practice what I’ve been reading and studying. The one thing I kept remembering is to turn off the analytical and turn on the spontaneous. Last class we learned and read on how to just BE in God’s presence. To just BE still and let God speak. So this is what I did. Now, I’m not gonna lie, I sat there. And I sat there. I wrote a little down in my journal and prayed a little. But all the while, becoming a little impatient, I kept those two words in me. “BE still.” So I was still. Just music and my lungs moving up and down as I slowly breathed in and out and became still. I noticed a certain song came on that I usually always skip because I personally don’t prefer the vocals in it and it’s not the most ‘catchy’ worship song I’ve heard. I let it play a little longer and got caught up in the lyrics. I noticed it was a song being sung as it would if God were singing (or talking). As I listened more intently to the words I became overwhelmed by the presence and of God. I sat up and just listened as I knew God was singing this over me at that moment. I was so overwhelmed by His presence I began to cry. I immediately turned the song on repeat and listened to it again still focusing on being still. I sat there so absorbed into the words. I was speechless. It’s funny how I’ve heard this song before and always skipped it, but
just when I was meditating on the Lord, He showed me this song when I needed it. The song is called “Your Eyes Light Up” by The Ember Days. I’m sure 99% of you haven’t even heard of this band, but here are the lyrics. Take a minute and read all of it and imagine God saying/singing this to you personally…

Your eyes light up when you breathe for the first time
and you’re alive with a breath of mine
I wrote my name with the stars,
none more beautiful than you are

I just want to hold you here in my arms
Replace your tears with all my love.
Don’t ever say you don’t need me,
Cause I need you. I need you.

Nothing can change my love for you
And every day I make all things new

Your life’s a moment gone like a whisper
I thought of you when I made forever

And I’ve gone before you to lay it all down
And place your fears upon my crown
I won’t let the heavens divide our hearts.
I want to be where you are.
That’s why I came
And that’s why I died.
And that’s why I gave it all for you
Cause I love you, I love you
I love you.

Amazing right? As I looked up these lyrics while listening to this song I lost it. Or to put it plainly, I became a blubbering mess. These words pierced the very core of my heart to where I was completely wrapped up in His loving presence. At that very moment He was showing me His love for me. Each line of every verse spoke so much into me and my heart. The VERY FIRST line of the song says, “Your eyes light up when you breathe for the first time and you’re alive with the breath of mine.” How amazing is that?? Knowing that when I was created He was right there with me watching me with love in His eyes. Or the verse that says, “I won’t let the heavens divide our hearts. I want to be where you are. That’s why I came. And that’s why I died.” I feel like these words really show us the true heart of Jesus towards us. We have this tendency to always think He’s mad at us and even though ‘yeah, I know He loves me’ I think sometimes we really lose the real meaning of the word ‘love.’ We get caught up in how we see ourselves instead of how He sees us; as righteousness. We throw the word ‘love’ around for everything (I know I do). “Oh I love those shoes!” “I love this!” “I love that!” We use it to describe our feeling towards physical/material things of this world. But I believe the word ‘love’ was made specifically for God’s love for us. A selfless love. An Unconditional love.

Tonight I believe I experienced this love while just being STILL and waiting on Him.  He showed me His thoughts of me and wanted to tell me how He felt about me through this song…and I loved every minute of it. We all experience God’s love. It doesn’t have to be through a song and you don’t have to cry in order to feel God’s love. You don’t have to be in deep prayer or at the altar. He loves us every second of every day. Like in the song, “I thought of you when I made forever.” We are in His thoughts. Just to think about that amazes me! The God of all creation, all the universe, thinks…about…me.

Needless to say, after this experience I couldn’t help but write it down and give everyone else the opportunity to see how great His love is for you!

“And that’s why I gave it all for you, ‘cause I love you.”

Robyn Singletary