Resting on promises

I love singing. Its one of those passions I've had since a little girl that nonetheless lead to many nights, while lying on my Rainbow Brite sheets, dreaming of how I would someday stand on a stage in a large venue and proudly belt out lyrics no doubt similar to Debbie Gibson.Well, thankfully, that never happened as it was both a foolish and self-centered dream. However, I still just as much enjoy belting out praises to my God. I love listening to lyrics of songs and allowing my heart to so powerfully connect with the words.

Growing up in a more conservative church, we sang a lot of hymns and more "choral" time songs. There was one song in particular I remember singing quite often and still sing when we visit my parent's church. My mom may resonate with some of this as she loves singing and the Lord has blessed her with the gift. But this one song, I now read in scripture and wonder how its possible that I've sang it all these years without allowing it to connect with my heart. As I read these words in scripture I'm both humbled and extremely grateful for the love and strength of my Lord. How is it that I've sang these verses so many times and yet never felt anything? 

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." Lamentations 3:23-27

Now, all those verses aren't in the song but I found myself even as I read them in the bible skimming over them as I heard the song in my head. I noticed they weren't really registering with my heart. Its possible to do this I suppose, with any song really that uses scripture as lyrics.

Oh, but may we just rest today on the Lord's wonderful promises....his steadfast love, his love for us that never (NEVER) ceases, his mercies on us that will NOT end, his mercies on us that are new each morning, his great faithfulness (even when we are NOT faithful), his goodness to those who wait for him, to those who seek him. May we, like the writer in Lamentations, say and resolve that the Lord IS my portion.

I pray that today the Lord will be my portion and that I will hope in him. I pray the same for you. And I pray that as we sing and worship, especially when singing scripture, that we will remember we are speaking God's holy words and that we will never skim over them.

Lastly, for those of you who shared my love for Rainbow Brite, I just couldn't help but put this in....just to stir up good memories....