“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!”
When it comes to music, I am an eclectic soul. Promise not to hold that against me. I have some 1,635 songs on my iPhone. My tastes range from the pop rhythms of Megan Trainer to the outlaw country of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. I appreciate the artistry of Christopher Parkening's guitar, Wynton Marsalis' trumpet, Yo-Yo-Ma's cello, and Zac Brown's Band.
Thanks to my children, I am not stuck in the 70's. I have a growing appreciation for Johnnyswim and Old Crow Medicine Show. My music mix is just as likely to include John Legend as it is Johnny Cash or John Mellencamp.
These days it is not unusual for me to walk into the house touting "my new favorite song" . . . that special number that has temporarily captured my heart and soul. I'll put my ear buds in Shannan's ears, "Here, listen to this!" or I will plug my phone into an auxiliary jack in her car so as to share my latest find.
While the song changes from time-to-time, "Greater" by the group Mercy Me has filled that billing for a few months:
Bring your tired
Bring your shame
Bring your guilt
Bring your pain
Don't you know that's not your name
You will always be much more to me
Everyday I wrestle with the voices
That keep telling me I'm not right
But that's alright
Cause I hear a voice and he calls me redeemed
When others say I'll never be enough
And greater is the One living inside of me
Than he who is living in the world
In the world
In the world
And greater is the One living inside of me
Than he who is living in the world
The song is based on the amazing truth that John, the now aged disciple, shares with his Christian friends struggling in the faith.
“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
How easy it is for me to give a nod to the truth of those words without ever letting them seep into my soul. And that is where music works its wonders. Like smoke curling through the cracks and crevices of my heart, the melody carries the lyrics past the high walls and closed off places. Music is the covert agent of God feeding life-giving truth to my weary soul. It reminds me of his awe-inspiring wonder, his ever-present help, and gracious invitation to revel in being his redeemed:
Bring your doubts
Bring your fears
Bring your hurt
Bring your tears
There'll be no condemnation here
You are holy, righteous and redeemed
Every time I fall
There'll be those who will call me
A mistake
Well that's ok
Cause I hear a voice and he calls me redeemed
When others say I'll never be enough
And greater is the One living inside of me
Than he who is living in the world
In the world
In the world
And greater is the One living inside of me
Than he who is living in the world
My tastes are varied and my desire for music is insatiable, but when "my new favorite" song points me to the One who is greater, then like the psalmist I want to do more than just sing. I want to sing His praise.
Click here to listen to "Greater" (you'll have to wait a few seconds to skip the commercial).