You may recall that my prayer time during the three weeks of sickness was anything but robust. I guess that’s to be expected when I felt like one sick puppy – no offense to Maisy and Mimi!
And yet it was disturbing to me because it felt as though my relationship with God had taken a few steps back. I certainly didn’t want that on top of the physical challenges!
For years, I’ve heard people say, “If you feel distant from God, guess who moved.” Ugh! Talk about a looming guilt trip!
So, as we often do, I started making excuses and justifications for why I felt so blasé whenever I tried to talk to God. And honestly, much of the time I just felt too exhausted to even try.
Through all those dark moments, I didn’t question God’s love for me. He wasn’t disappointed that I didn’t come to him as frequently as before I got sick. I’m grateful his love is never dependent on anything I do or don’t do.
It’s strictly dependent on who he is – and he and his love never end. Praise God for that truth through those days of illness.
On one of my early days of healing, where I began to approach the 90% healed mark, I was in my car for one of the first times since I began hunkering down.
I had my favorite Christian radio station on and a wonderful, uplifting, sing-along song came on. I began to sing along with it, maybe even bouncing around in my seat a little bit.
Immediately I felt God’s presence in my spirit as I sang those words of praise at the top of my lungs – well, as much as my diminished lung capacity would allow!
It was an instantaneous return to peace and joy and delight in worshipping my Savior. THIS is what I had been missing all those dreary days.
Before the song ended, I understood what God wanted me to learn – praising and worshipping him is integral to a healthy, growing relationship with him.
Colossians 3:16 tells us, “Let the word of Christ swell in you richly…singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…”
That doesn’t mean that we are in continual song mode. Even as a musician, I don’t live there all the time.
That wasn’t God’s message. He wasn’t saying the only way to revive my relationship with him was to be singing praise songs. We can worship God anywhere, anytime and through any methods – musical or not.
But the lesson was clearly pointing me toward a key element of keeping my spirit in tune with God’s and feeling refreshed on a daily basis.
It brought tears to my eyes to think that God was so personal with me that he led me to experience his nearness once again, and brought the reminder of how crucial this element is to our walk with him.
Whether you’re a classically trained musician or, as my dad used to say, “Can’t carry a tune in a bucket with two handles,” music can still and should be a part of how we respond to our loving Father.
Feeling grateful? Find a praise song. Feeling overwhelmed? Find a praise song. Feeling utterly defeated? Find a praise song. (Theologically accurate, of course)
And while you’re engaged in that praise, notice how your spirit lifts, regardless of where it began. How much closer do you now feel to God? I promise your heart will be blessed and your relationship with your Creator strengthened.
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
Psalm 30:11-12