Another lesson: A Soundtrack of Praise

        Another very simple but I believe profoundly powerful lesson for the storms: maintain a soundtrack of praise.
        I mean that quite literally.  Keep praise music, worship music, uplifting music that strengthens your soul...keep it playing in the background.  At the hospital, at home, in the car.  Music--especially great hymns or praise and worship songs--has a power all its own to remind your heart of the truth.  Because in the heat of the storm, our hearts forget.
        Pain or fear of discouragement almost always lead to spiritual amnesia.  Yes, we might know intellectually that God is in control, that Jesus is with us every moment, that the Lord is working all things out for our ultimate good and His glory.  Yeah, yeah, yeah....
        But as the wind and waves lash and disorient us, we can't feel it.   We can't feel Him...and so we forget.  We all forget.         
        We need to be reminded.  And music speaks to your heart.  Music brings to your conscious memory that which you already knew, but forgot or doubt.  Music somehow reaches past the pain, the fear, the sorrow and speaks strong, true Truth to your weary, burdened soul.
          It happened over and over again to us when Janie was in the ICU.  Amidst the continual beeps and alarms of the equipment and the constant visits from the nurses, we softly played worship music in the background.  We started playing it in the hope that in some mysterious way, Janie might be able to hear it deep in the recesses of her coma and thus be somehow strengthened in her battle.
           But what we learned was that we--her often frightened, fragile parents--were the ones who were powerfully and beautifully ministered to by that music.  Because we were reminded afresh of truths like--

Lost are saved, find their way, at the sound of Your great name
All condemned, feel no shame, at the sound of Your great name
Every fear, has no place, at the sound of Your great name
The enemy, he has to leave, at the sound of Your great name
Jesus, worthy is the lamb that was slain for us, son of God and man
You are high and lifted up, that all the world will praise Your great name
All the weak, find their strength, at the sound of Your great name
Hungry souls, receive grace, at the sound of Your great name
The fatherless, they find their rest, at the sound of Your great name
Sick are healed, and the dead are raised, at the sound of Your great name
Jesus, worthy is the lamb that was slain for us, son of god and man
You are high and lifted up, that all the world will praise Your great name
Oh, Your great name
Redeemer, my healer, almighty
My savior, defender, You are my king   ("Your Great Name")

Or--
Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
We fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to Him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely You've bled for us
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but Heaven's will
No scheme of Hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold You down
In strength You reign
Forever let Your church proclaim
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night
Sing it, o death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
Our God is not dead, He's alive, He's alive
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
("Christ is Risen")

        Oh and so many more!  Even today, when I hear one of those many glorious songs we played on that little boom box in the ICU, tears of joy and thanksgiving spring to my eyes.  I'm reminded afresh of my Great God.  Of who He is. Of all He has done for us in Christ.  Of all He can do.  And of all He has promised for us in the future.
         And it's all ultimately good...extraordinarily, supernaturally, eternally, good-as-it-gets good. 
         But in midst of the storm, your heart needs to be reminded.
         In the midst of the storm, your soul needs to be strengthened in Him...in His Word, in His character, in His faithfulness, in His everlasting love, in His omnipotent power.  Music preaches to your heart like almost nothing else, and despair flees in the face of praise.  So keep playing that soundtrack of praise.
         "Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation!  Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!  For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods."  (Ps.95:1-3)
          It's okay if you forget...we all do.  Just put on those worship songs, those hymns, that praise music, and I promise, you'll start remembering.
          And in remembering, your heart will begin rejoicing.
          And in rejoicing, you will find yourself revived and restored...even in very teeth of the storm.
          Because Jesus will be right there with you in the storm...and He is always, always, always enough.
         To our Savior, our Redeemer, our King of Kings, and the One who has defeated sin and death, be all the glory.