My journal entry from July 31, 2017
Worship: Hills and the Valleys by Tauren Wells
I've walked among the shadows
You wiped my tears away
And I've felt the pain of heartbreak
And I've seen the brighter days
And I've prayed prayers to heaven from my lowest place
And I have held Your blessings
God, You give and take away
No matter what I have, Your grace is enough
No matter where I am, I'm standing in Your love
(chorus)
On the mountains, I will bow my life to the One who set me there
In the valley, I will lift my eyes to the One who sees me there
When I'm standing on the mountain I didn't get there on my own
When I'm walking through the valley I know I am not alone
You're God of the hills and valleys, hills and valleys
God of the hills and valleys
And I am not alone
I've watched my dreams get broken
In You, I hope again
No matter what
I know I'm safe inside Your hands
(chorus)
Father, You give and take away
Every joy and every pain
Through it all, You will remain over it all
On the mountains, I will bow my life
In the valley, I will lift my eyes
(chorus)
And I will choose to say
Blessed be Your name
And I am not alone
Publishing:© 2016 Be Essential Songs/Crucial Music Entertainment/Jord A Lil Music (BMI)/So Essential Tunes/Not Just Another Song Publishing (SESAC) All rights admin. at www.EssentialMusicPublishing.com
Writer(s): Tauren Wells, Chuck Butler, Jonathan Smith
You wiped my tears away
And I've felt the pain of heartbreak
And I've seen the brighter days
And I've prayed prayers to heaven from my lowest place
And I have held Your blessings
God, You give and take away
No matter what I have, Your grace is enough
No matter where I am, I'm standing in Your love
(chorus)
On the mountains, I will bow my life to the One who set me there
In the valley, I will lift my eyes to the One who sees me there
When I'm standing on the mountain I didn't get there on my own
When I'm walking through the valley I know I am not alone
You're God of the hills and valleys, hills and valleys
God of the hills and valleys
And I am not alone
I've watched my dreams get broken
In You, I hope again
No matter what
I know I'm safe inside Your hands
(chorus)
Father, You give and take away
Every joy and every pain
Through it all, You will remain over it all
On the mountains, I will bow my life
In the valley, I will lift my eyes
(chorus)
And I will choose to say
Blessed be Your name
And I am not alone
Publishing:© 2016 Be Essential Songs/Crucial Music Entertainment/Jord A Lil Music (BMI)/So Essential Tunes/Not Just Another Song Publishing (SESAC) All rights admin. at www.EssentialMusicPublishing.com
Writer(s): Tauren Wells, Chuck Butler, Jonathan Smith
Video: https://youtu.be/keKjO9NiX5I
Witness:
I chose this song for worship because it so aptly describes our life as a series of hills and valleys. How we handle those hills and valleys depends on how we look at them. It’s a matter of our perspective. If we see them as a random amalgamation of chance, then we will curse the darkness and squander our times in the light. We will wallow in our worries and become haughty in the heights. However, if we see them as all coming from the hand of our sovereign and loving and all wise God, then we will worship rather than worry and be humble in the heights. Our perspective has changed.
Therefore, in the valleys, I will raise my eyes to the One who sees and cares and has led me there. On the mountain top, I will lower my eyes in humble recognition of the One who brought me there.
One perspective keeps its eyes on self and circumstances. One view takes its eyes off self and looks to the Savior. What is the focus of my gaze today?
Lord,
I come to you with empty hands
Because I cannot bring to You
Anything You don’t already have
Please fill them with Your blessing
I come to You with a filthy heart
Full of vile and wanton longings
But yearning for Your holy touch
To cleanse from sin’s infesting
I come to You with a divided mind
Distracted by the world’s allurements
Please captivate me with Your beauty
My wandering mind arresting
I come to You with a trembling spirit
Shattered by my circumstances and woes
Oh, hold me, heal me, and grant me peace
When life becomes too distressing
~ Amen
WORD:
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Ps 26:8-27:1
8 I love the house where you live, O Lord,
the place where your glory dwells.
9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,
whose right hands are full of bribes.
11 But I lead a blameless life;
redeem me and be merciful to me.
12 My feet stand on level ground; in the
great assembly I will praise the Lord.
NIV (’84)
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Ps 26:8-27:1
8 I love your sanctuary, Lord,
the place where your glorious presence dwells.
9 Don't let me suffer the fate of sinners.
Don't condemn me along with murderers.
10 Their hands are dirty with evil schemes,
and they constantly take bribes.
11 But I am not like that; I live with integrity.
So redeem me and show me mercy.
12 Now I stand on solid ground,
and I will publicly praise the Lord.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
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Ps 26:8-27:1
8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:
10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord.
KJV
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Ps 26:8-12
8 O Lord, I love the habitation of your house
and the place where your glory dwells.
9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right hands are full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on level ground;
in the great assembly I will bless the
Lord.
ESV
|
David has been through much in his life. He has fought with lions and giants. He has battled with tyrants and temptation. He has won some and lost some. He carries the scars of these battles. In all these things, he has maintained his integrity by the grace of God, and now he steps up onto a firm and level place. He knows he hasn’t gotten there by himself for he declares in another place that it was the Lord who got him there.
Ps 40:2
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand
NIV
He knows that this is not the end of the road. The journey will continue and he will still need the Lord’s protection from his foes and guidance for wherever he goes.
Ps 27:11
Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level* path
because of my enemies.
ESV
* same word used in 26:12
One day, we know, all temptation and tyrants will be defeated. Giant despair will be slain and the Slough of Despond will be drained dry.
Isa 40:4-5
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level*,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all mankind together will see it.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."
NIV
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