Lightness Follows Choosing (and a bonus video)
// Changing gears is a grind. Busy doing one thing, completely focused, emotionally spent, then needing to change that focus and engage differently.
Not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure.
Such are Thursdays for me. Every week. Why such a challenge? Because the enemy of my soul knows that Thursday evening is the time when I engage my community and enjoy my God. He is committed to keeping me distracted and soulish, starving my spirit and nursing emptiness.
Every time.
Don’t be surprised, oh my soul, when the worst happens today. It’s not the end of the world. You are not dying, nor are you alone.
This is your battle to fight and your weapons are mighty. Worship, song, thanksgiving, praise, prayer, prophetic, the new song. Singing the spontaneous, unrehearsed song… the never-before-heard song… the spur-of-the-moment song… the I’ve-got-to-let-my-heart-out song.
It begins as a choice but it quickly becomes a joy, whisking me above the weight of the day and sending me soaring to places of refreshment and abandon. I hear those melodies in Heaven and I willingly join in. //
The new song begins as a choice but quickly becomes a joy. Click To TweetLightness follows choosing. No need to warm-up with three hymns and a chorus. I choose to switch gears now.
I choose to sing my heart to Him.
I abandon myself to His presence.
And there is joy.
So what could I say and what could I do
But offer this heart, oh God
Completely to You
So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
I’ll stand
My soul, Lord, to You surrendered
All I am is Yours
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Every Friday, I join an inspiring group of writers to write for FIVE MINUTES on a one-word prompt. No editing. No revising. Just WRITE. This week, the prompt word was ABANDON.
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For more information on Five Minute Friday, check out Kate Motaung’s site!
Great post, Shauna! Music is such a powerful way to move our focus away from ourselves and the stresses of life and put it on God. It is a choice, but as you say there is so much joy when we can turn to God and abandon ourselves in praise to him. I love this line: “I hear those melodies in Heaven and I willingly join in.” Glad to be your neighbour today!
Hey, Lesley! Thanks so much for your kind comments. I knew you would love the focus on worship. Last night was one of those occasions that began with tiredness and ended with adrenalin. I loved it!
Heading over to read your post now. Have a great weekend!
Thursday is my struggle day, too! Very good that you choose to keep on going and seeking God’s presence!
Thanks, Katha. I’m so glad you stopped by. I’ve been thinking about you so often in your new city and job. Praying for favour with students and parents, and joy in your new surroundings. Heading over to read your post now. Have a great week!
Another great song, Shauna! Still love it as much as when I heard it for the first time. Beautiful writing as you were describing all life’s demands, the pushes and pulls. Thanks for sharing, friend.
I know, right? Some songs just don’t go out of style.
And thanks so much for the compliment, Mandy. Your encouragement is so appreciated! Have a great weekend!
I have not every heard this song. It is beautiful! I will be playing this one over a few times tonight for sure. It is so true that worship music strengthens us and gives us the push we need. I am so glad I stopped here. May I also say, I think this is my first time here so it is wonderful to meet you 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by, Joanne. I’m so glad you did. It’s lovely to meet you too. That song is a couple of years old already from Hillsong United, but it’s one of those songs that just doesn’t seem to go out of style. I’m thrilled to share it with you. 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend!
I relate to this a lot! And I find encouragement in your words. Thanks Shauna.
Oh, Debby. I’m always glad to see you here, and always glad that you leave encouraged! Have a great week, my friend.
“I choose to sing my heart to Him.”
THAT is going up on the refrigerator in Great Big Letters.
The best compliment ever, Andrew! Both my husband and I are quite minimalistic, and our fridge is sacred ground… if something makes it to the fridge, it’s gotta be special.
So glad to see you here, my friend!
Shauna, yes, it’s a choice to switch gears. It’s a choice to turn our hearts toward God and what He’s given us to refresh us and to turn our backs to our enemy. When we choose God, doesn’t He have such an amazing way of refreshing us?!
And I love that hymn. 🙂