"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." --Revelation 21:3
It began the way most of my mornings begin, a drive to work, complete with toast and coffee to go. I started down the road, bite of toast and mind spinning with the events of the coming day. My car soon filled with the music of my choir practice CD that lives there most of the time. I have listened to this CD so many times that I almost don't even hear it....But soon the words of my choir director played through my mind about just LISTENING to the songs and worshiping as you listen. I began to sing the song, as I always do, but I stopped. I got quiet and concentrated on just driving and to the words of the song.
What happened next was truly a worship experience. The words...the beautiful sunrise sky directly in front of me...the sweet music behind the words...all these things enveloped me and wrapped me up inside of them.
"We have found our hope, we have found our peace.
We have found our rest in the One who loves.
He will light the way; He will lead us home
As we offer all to the One who saves us." (The One Who Saves - Ben Fielding and Bradley Knight)
I listened to these words and let them sink into my mind and into my heart. I BELIEVED them and the words comforted me and quieted my spirit. All the things I worry about...all my insecurities...all my doubts and fears...they slipped away for that moment and I was reminded that these things don't really matter.
"This is God in His holy place
This is God clothed in love and strength.
Sing out. Lift your voice and cry out,
"Awesome is our strong God! Mighty is our God!"
There is no higher, no,
There is no greater, no,
There is none stronger than our God." (Strong God - Jason Ingram, Jon Egan, Meredith Andrews)
I rounded a bend in the road and headed directly into the bright morning sun! It blinded me for a moment, but lit my spirit with it shimmering radiance. For no particular reason, tears began to stream down my face and my chest tightened. The toast that I had been hungry for just a few moments ago lay discarded on the paper plate in the passenger's seat as I no longer wanted it.
"You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin...
Oh, I'm running to your arms
I'm running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign" (Forever Reign - Jason Ingram, Reuben Morgan)
I know it may sound funny to some of you, but at that exact moment, I felt like I was wrapped in God's embrace...like He was THERE with me in the car, driving down the country road with me. I felt like a child, sitting in my dad's lap, safe and secure and happy.
I was getting closer to work and to be honest, I wanted to keep driving. I didn't want this experience and this feeling to end. But, duty calls, and I pulled into my parking spot. I wiped my tears, took a deep breath and thanked God for being WITH me.
I wish the feeling of this worship experience WOULD last all day, but the world came rushing in, quickly bringing me back to my reality and bringing along with it all my doubts, fears and insecurities. As I walked up the sidewalk, a coworker said something to me, and I started to cry...why, I'm not sure. I freaked her out and she was instantly worried about me. How do I explain to her that it had nothing to do with what she said...
No, I'm not a nutcase...I just had a magical moment with God. I can't explain why it happened or how it happened...if it was real or in my mind. But it happened and I am so grateful for those worshipful moments in my car. I wanted...no I needed to write about it, to share with you this moment in my life that I hope someday happens again.
What started out as a normal, every day morning drive to work turned into a worship experience...or maybe an encounter with God. My wish for you, my friends, is your own comforting, inspiring and magical worship experience where God comes home to live in your heart for a moment as well.
