SOVEREIGN

Last night I set my iTunes to shuffle and then proceeded to skip songs that I didn't necessarily want to listen to.  I eventually came to the song "Sovereign" by Chris Tomlin.  I googled the lyrics thinking I would sing along but instead I just listened and thought about what it truly means for the Lord to be sovereign over all.  The lyrics below took my breath away.

All my hopes

All I need 

Held in your hands

All my life

All of me 

Held in your hands

All my fears

All my dreams

Held in your hands

Why did they take my breath away? Well, the Spirit was convicting me of my distrust or doubt in the Lord.  I didn't have to ask myself if I truly believed that he had all my fears, my dreams, my hopes, and all of me in his hands.  I knew the answer was "No, I am not trusting him with them".  Why? Probably because I am 34 years-old living with my parents waiting on my phone to ring to substitute teach while I wait for financial support to come flooding in for me to do what I long to do, missionary care. "God isn't giving me what I hope and dream, so how can I trust Him," were my subconscious thoughts. In my waiting, I chose to overlook the good that has come from being in this place or how He has been faithful in the past.  I haven't verbally/ prayerfully laid down my fears, dreams, hopes, and every piece of myself before the Lord lately. It is a prayer I have prayed for others, but not for myself.  In the waiting, distrust arose because what I wasn't getting what I wanted... how selfish!

So I opened my Bible app and proceeded to search for the word sovereign.  Did you know that it appears in almost if not every single chapter of Ezekiel?  Ezekiel truly believed that God is Sovereign! I will be diving into that book soon!  However, in my search, I came across Isaiah 61.  I have read this chapter a few times these last two and a half years.  It is a chapter I go to sometimes to remind me why I love counseling and helping people. This time I read it with a different perspective.  I read it with my heart and mind focused on how my God is over all of it, the good and the bad, the pain and joy, the unmet expectations and those that are met!  We go through the despair, darkness and struggle, so that we can become oaks of righteousness that display his splendor, that the nations will praise him, and that our souls can rejoice in our SOVEREIGN GOD forever!

Read it twice outloud and REJOICE in the Redemption and Restoration that He has for His people!!

The Spirit of the SOVEREIGN Lord is on me, 

because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and

the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion--

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, 

the oil of joy instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, 

a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;

they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

Strangers will shepherd your flocks'

foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

And you will be called priests of the Lord,

you will be named ministers of our God.

You will feed on the wealth of nations,

and in their riches you will boast.

Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion,

and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance.

And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,

and everlasting joy will be yours!!

"For I, the Lord, love justice;

I hate robbery and wrongdoing.

In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them.

Their descendants will be known among the nations

and their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed."

I delight greatly in the Lord;

my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

For as the soil makes the sprout come up

and a garden causes seeds to grow,

so the SOVEREIGN Lord will make righteousness and praise

spring up before all nations.

I mean PRAISE THE LORD that out of death came LIFE and out of our despair and pain we find beauty and joy!!  Can I get an AMEN?!! How GREAT is our God!!  

 He reigns over the shuffling of iTunes and leads my thoughts back to His word where I was reminded of truth.  He shows his love as he reigns and sent His Spirit to convict and remind us of how GREAT He truly is!  Even in my waiting, He is SOVEREIGN!

So as I continue to wait, I pray that I can move forward truly believing...

In your everlasting arms

All the pieces of my life

From beginning to the end

I can trust you

In your never failing love

You work everything for good

God whatever comes my way

I will trust you!

Sovereign video with lyrics: http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=092EJCNU