Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Silence

PSALM 30

I will exalt You, Lord because you have lifted me up and have not allowed my enemies to triumph over me.
Lord, my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. Lord, You brought me up from Sheol, You spared me from among those going down to the Pit.
Sing to the Lord, you His faithful ones, and praise His holy name.
For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor, a lifetime.
weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning!
When I was secure, I said, "I will never be shaken".
Lord, when You showed Your favor, You made me stand like a strong mountain; when You hid your face, I was terrified.
Lord, I called to you, I sought favor from My Lord:  "What gain is there in my death, in my descending to the Pit?  Will the dust praise you?  Will it proclaim Your truth?  Lord, listen and be gracious to me; Lord, be my helper.

You turned my lament into dancing
You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with Gladness
SO THAT I CAN SING TO YOU AND NOT BE SILENT
Lord My God, I will praise you forever!

Silence......this is something that most of the time makes me uncomfortable.  As many of you know me, I like to talk....ha!  That is an understatement....let me re-emphasize that....I LIKE TO TALK !!  My husband loves silence.  Kind of a crazy, only God ordained relationship we have!  I understand the purpose of silence.  Be still and know that I am God.  I understand the place for silence.  I understand the importance of silence....but ....is it my love?

This psalm is one that I love.  I have read it a million times and honestly, most people who have read this focus on the "pain in the night, joy in the morning" verse.   While I love that verse dearly, tonight...as I was worshiping and listening to God, this verse exploded in my head.....SO THAT I CAN SING TO YOU AND NOT BE SILENT !    I love to worship!  I love to sing to my Father!  I love to "not be silent".  I love the freedom in expression, in language, in shouts of joy, in loud weeping of our souls.  I love to praise from the depths of my heart.

 David wrote this Psalm after committing a horrible sin and deaths of his followers were a result of God's punishment for David.  He writes this Psalm out of the truth that he knew of God.  God loves him despite his failures, that it is total fear to live outside of God's face, and that His anger lasts only for a season and joy always follows.  But that one thing that David was great at, was worshipping!  His greatest joy was that He could Sing to God and not be silent!

I do not want to be silent towards God. I want to express my love, my joy, my passion, my fears, my failures and my release to Him, my Lord, my Savior, my hope and my Father!   The truth is...how CAN I be silent?    In Revelation, the cherubim are surrounding Jesus constantly singing and praising.....constantly, without fail.  This is where I want to be!!

Where are you in your life today?  Are you silent in your expression to Jesus?  Does your heart fill with joy at just the thought of being able to praise Him?  I challenge you to spend time today NOT being silent!  Whether it is in your house, your car, your shower, or your sanctuary....do not be silent!  Express out loud your love for Him, for what He has done for you and what He will do for you!   Sing!  Even if you cannot!  Express to Him the reason that you follow Him!  Get out of your comfort zone and do not be Silent!  Enjoy the Freedom you have in Christ and relish in it!  Love this day of Worship!