Spirit-Conducted Symphony

Image credit sduck409 on Flickr

The feelings are real enough to

affect all the major organs,

and they can create symphonic

sound waves of pathos and power.

Strings, carrying you on wings of

fantasy; cymbals, clashing you

back to reality, making

the child within you start to cry.

But the body that plays them must

bow to the spirit conductor

as he rises tall, else there can

be no true symphony at all--

merely melancholy medley

of disjointed, discordant strains,

musicians playing their refrains,

wrong rhythm, timing, melody--

just painful noise that hurts hearts

designed to hear peaceful pieces,

composed in order, soothing sounds

directed by the conductor.

"I give up!"  I know that's the wrong thing to confess, that no one should ever even think it, much less say it--especially if we claim to know God.  But I said it anyway and felt like I just didn't care!   So, if anyone should chance to read this that feels the same way, know that you're not alone:)

Know, too, that we don't have that option!:)  I could type a nice, neat little sermon about why we should never contemplate giving up.  Just let me remind you -- and myself, too-- that we cannot afford to give up on God, ourselves, others, or life in general.  Without God, nothing makes sense.  To think we and our ordered universe evolved is sheer lunacy.  His Word is true and works when it's practiced.  He is Totally Trustworthy, and His ways are as high above ours as the heavens are the earth.  He IS God, after all.

He never gives up on us; His mercies are new every morning and fresh every evening.  He is working in others the same as He is in us, and we don't know everything there is to know!  This life is only the temporary one to get us ready for the forever one, but it can be rather glorious at times.  At other times, it seems a bit too much to bear--mostly because of our own wrong choices or wrong choices of others to whom we relate--as well as unforeseen tragedy and difficulty. Sometimes, too, we forget that we have a very real enemy who is out to destroy us so that we can never fulfill God's purpose to reflect His image, reproduce a Godly seed, and reign over life's circumstances by His spirit in us.

There, then, is the key.  Abide in Him; allow His Word to take root in our hearts and abide in us.  Spend time in His presence feeding our spirit so that it is strong enough to withstand outward pressure and rule our feelings.  We are spirit beings with an intellect, will, and emotions; we live in a body.  Human nature makes the body king--and gets that same body (and sometimes other bodies!) in trouble that way. When we receive Jesus, His Spirit comes to dwell in the spirit part of us, making it alive.  Though our emotional thoughts and feelings still want control, we have new ability to renew our minds with His Word, choose to do His will, worship Him for Who He is.   And as we meditate on Him and His truth, our feelings come into line. 

We're not just pitiful survivors, but powerful children of the Almighty, more than conquerors through Him Who loved us and gave Himself for us!  May His unlimited strength and love rise up within us when our own is not enough!  Our "feelings" can grate on the ears of those who should be hearing the Good News from us, but we can become a true "symphony of worship" when our spirit conducts us.  Peaceful serenity and sounds of joy!