The Song of My Heart

There is a special moment when you hear a song and it appropriately expresses exactly how you feel right then. Instantly, a connection forms with the singer, the writer, the piano player, the guitar player, and yes even the drummer, because he or she was able to express what you keep deep in your soul. And that song becomes the song of your heart. 

If you've read many of my blogs I have often quoted lines from songs or posted videos of music that I couldn't give proper justice with my own words. Music helps us celebrate when we are excited. It helps us grieve when we are hurt. It gives us hope that tomorrow will be different. It breaths life and death in our soul. Through music we find friends that we'll never meet who live all over the world.

There is another important thing that music can do... It can change the heart. When angry, depressed, agitated, anxious, or scared, my mother has always told me to sing God a song. 'Sing Him a song and you will feel better.' Sometimes it can be as simple as 'Jesus Loves Me'; who can go wrong with that?! When I begin praising the Lord with my song, something happens to me. My mind and heart are re-focused on what is eternally important and released from the worry the temporary things of this world brings me.

My favorites include old hymns, such as 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus' and 'Nothing But the Blood'; they are great for reminding me who my Savior is to me. I love choruses that honor the relationship I have with Jesus, such as 'Jesus, Friend of Sinners' and 'Draw Me Close'. My favorite band of all time is Mercy Me, with Casting Crowns a close second, because they call out heavily to the church to be the hands and feet of Christ. I get excited at church when we sing 'Who Can Satisfy?' The group Addison Road (even though they aren't a group anymore) has multiple songs that I'm sure some mad scientist stole from my heart while I was sleeping in order to provide them with the material to perform. And there are those days when Bon Jovi's 'Have A Nice Day' is my anthem.  

I'm sure I could go on all day with my favorites, but there is ONE song that always changes my heart and exemplifies what I pray my life will be to those around me.  It is a chorus from my days in the youth group. I often catch myself singing it when doing the dishes. I sing it while driving to work; my heart often needs it even more when driving home. Sometimes I sing it out loud and sometimes I sing it silently. And yes, sometimes I sing it in the shower. After all, everyone sounds great in the shower!

Jesus, Be Jesus in Me is the song of my heart. What is the song in your heart?