Recent Encouraging Music

• "All That I've Ever Wanted" - Amanda Cook

  1. "All the other wells, they run dry / Other lovers never satisfy / That empty aching longing inside / It was for you and only you the whole time / Thank you for being here / This is all that I've ever wanted"

  2. "You are that all I've ever wanted"

     
     

• "Every Season is Holy Ground" - Jacob Cantrell & Capitol Hill City Music

  1. "When the waters do not part / And I wonder where you are / I will trust your father heart / You are good good God"

  2. "When I've pleaded and I've begged / But your answеr isn't yes / I will trust you know what's best / You are good good God"

  3. "And I havе seen too much to doubt / That someway somehow / Every season's holy ground / You are good good God"

  4. "Though my spirit may be weak / And I'm stumbling on my feet / Your joy will be my strength / You are good good God"

     
     

• "Up to Something" - One House, Upperroom

  1. "How many times have I circled this mountain / When will the walls that I’m facing come crashing down / The stories of old tell me of Your salvation / So You must be up to something"

  2. "Not my will but Yours be done / In the middle You’re still God / You know better than I do / I will put my trust in You"

  3. "If you’re the God who parted the waters / If You’re the God who walked on the sea / If You’re the God who stood in the fire / What can’t You do for me?"

  4. "If You’re the God who cleanses the leper / If You’re the God who makes the blind see / If You’re the God who raises the dead man / What can’t You do for me?"

  
  

"If You're the God who parted waters...what can't You do for me?" reminded me of God's power within me to bring about spiritual breakthrough. The past two years I've been more cynical, more defeated, more insecure than ever. I felt like I could not take one more disappointment, to the point where I would literally cry when I missed the train because even something seemingly inconsequential would reinforce my narrative that nothing ever goes my way, that good things are just not meant for me. I would work up everything in me to dare to ask God for something, but each time He didn't answer I became more cynical and hopeless. I would also have what felt like breakthrough moments only for those to fade quickly each time I thought this was the turning point.

But recently a friend reminded me of the need to be totally, utterly honest with God in prayer—tell Him what you want; tell Him you're disappointed. And yes, even this honesty takes all of me, because even though God already knows, vulnerability means opening myself up to disappointment. But her reminder changed my prayer life. Being stuck in Grand Rapids for almost two weeks waiting on my car title was actually what I needed, giving me the space and time to kneel down and wrestle with God in prayer with all of myself. And in this wrestling and breaking God met me with His love. Somehow I feel like now I have the renewed strength to claim God's promises, to hold God to His promises. Spurgeon wrote a little book where he explained that God's promises are like checks—you need to turn in your check to the bank and you will get your money. But you do need to turn in the check to get the money. There is an aspect of we need to "turn in" God's promises through faith. When I was in Seattle I talked with a friend and the result of that conversation was the renewed conviction that what I believe about how God perceives my present situation affects what I am able to receive from Him. We already have the fullness of spiritual blessings in our union with Christ. But what we believe about God affects the way we are able to live into what we already have in Him. It's like what Martyn Lloyd-Jones said about exercising faith—we do need to exercise our faith. I have all I need in Christ. I have fullness of life in Him. I already have joy and peace. But my view of God's heart and God's will towards me affects the way I pray, affects the way I ask, which in turn affects the way I either live or do not live into His fullness in my present situation.

• "What A God" - SEU Worship

  • "If the highest place I reach is at Your feet / Then I've done it all / If the best thing that I've seen is Your glory / Then I've seen it all / Your love has changed my life, forever satisfied / God, You are my everything"

  • "If one word is the only thing You speak / Then I've heard it all / If I feel Your heart and never see Your hand / I still have it all / No treasure of this life could ever satisfy / God, You are my everything"

    
    

The finality of this statement "If the best thing that I've seen is Your glory then I've seen it all" struck me. God, lead me to the place where if I don't see what I envision for my life come true, it is enough for me that I see Your glory. I spend so much time chasing my happiness and feeling miserable that I don't have what I think I need to be happier, all the while letting those things make me feel extremely insecure because I care so much about them and they take over my headspace. But again and again I am re-centered, re-called, re-drawn to the greatest commandment: "love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself." Lord, help me believe You—if I live with the single-mindedness of following Your greatest commandment, that this is the happiest place, the most fulfilling place, and You will give me all I need, in Your best way, for the specific lot You have assigned me.

• "Lead Me On" - Chandler Moore

  1. "But I'd rather walk by faith / And not by my foolish sight / So lead me on..."

  2. "I'll put one foot in front of the other / I won't ever look back / What You have for me is better / I'll let go of my past / I know that the future is nothing to fear"

     
     

• "More Like Jesus" - Passion

  1. "If more of You / Means less of me / Take everything"

  2. "All of You / Is all I need / Take everything"

  3. "You are my life and my treasure / The One that I can’t live without / Here at Your feet my desires and dreams, I lay down"

     
     

• "Hell or High Water" - Amanda Cook

  1. "You have my heart for good, for good / I've seen enough to know You're good / Hell or high water / I'll build an altar / I will remember, I will remember / You are The Healer / You're The Redeemer / Your love is unfailing / Faithful forever / So come what may, I'll trust, I'll trust / You rule, you reign with love / Always with love"

     
     

• "What Love Is This" - Kari Jobe

  1. "You never change / You are the God You say You are / When I'm afraid / You come and still my beating heart / You stay the same / When hope is just a distant thought / You take my pain / And You lead me to the cross"

  2. "What love is this / That You gave Your life for me / And made a way for me to know You / And I confess / You're always enough for me / You're all I need"

     
     

• "Fear is Not My Future" - Maverick City Music

  1. "Fear is not my future / You are / Sickness is not my story / You are / Heartbreak's not my home / You are / Death is not the end / You are"