Whilst I've been resting and my broken ankle's been healing, I've spent a lot of time listening to worship songs and podcasts, and reading the Bible - I also stared out of the window a bit and watched the changing sky - a new slower-paced activity for sure!
Most mornings in those first couple of weeks, I'd wake up with a line from a worship song in my head. I thank God for that, as He then set the tone for the rest of the day. Plenty of times I then listened to the whole song (on repeat of course) looked up Bible passages, studied word meanings and journalled what I felt God was saying to me.
One of the songs that spoke to me so powerfully was "Yes and Amen" by the Housefires, which we worshipped with this morning at Kerith.
The song has so many wonderful phrases and images - right from the first line Father of kindness You have poured out grace - wow! meditate on that for a while!
Hope I can bless you with some of the thoughts I journalled.
Faithful You are
Faithful forever You will be
Such strong words to encourage and stir our faith!
Faithful: Worthy of trust; can be relied on; sure; true; trustworthy; constant.
One of the root words is Pistos - a word that also translates as"believe" or "faith" - the very same word we based REAL on earlier this year!
All Your promises are Yes and Amen!
They are yes in Christ - and we say amen!
"But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us – by me, Silas and Timothy – was not ‘Yes’ and ‘No’, but in him it has always been ‘Yes’. For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
I will rest in Your promises
What does it look like to rest in His promises?
I found that there are a few different words translated as Rest - some conveying ideas of cessation and refreshment; of stopping, being quiet and Sabbath. Others to do with leaning on; relying on and trusting in. I'm not sure of the root word intended here, but I love the idea behind the word kataskenoo sometimes translated as rest - to lodge - think of birds lodging in a tree! The NIV translation of Acts 2:26 says "My body also will rest in hope" and this is interpreted in the Message commentary as "I have pitched my tent in the land of hope". To me, this kind of word picture conveys rest as me actively choosing to live in, and then live out of God's faithfulness. Love it!
My confidence is Your faithfulness
Remember God's promises, call them to mind and remember His faithfulness. He has done it before , He will do it in the future.
If you love hearing more about the background and writing of a song, you'll probably enjoy this acoustic version and conversation. Chris Tomlin's also recorded Yes and Amen
Take a listen (or 20!) and let God's Holy Spirit do what only He can do in your heart.
God bless x