Then Sings my Soul …. by Lori Clounie

“Then Sings my Soul, my Savior God to Thee, How Great Thou Art ….”

Driving along, as without thought, I catch myself belting out this wonderful old hymn.

Cackling at the top of my lungs, I begin sensing my emotions rising, as if my heart has leaped into my throat.

My voice cracks and once again, I find myself in a sweet moment of worship.

Of course, it never fails.  

It is always on my way to a special event, make-up looking good, and then it happens.  My eyes start welling up and before I know it I’m blotchy and striped straight down my nose, from my eyes to my chin.

Worship does that.

It overwhelms me at times.  Like when the National Anthem is being played and you get a knot in your throat or when a bride walks down the isle to meet her groom, every time my heart seems to rise up and choke me with emotion.

Obviously I’m the sentimental type, but really …. worship is often like that.

Turn on the radio and bam!  A song is playing and before you know it, it zero’s in straight for the vulnerable places in your heart.  The place that takes you to God on your knees.

Then sings my soul…

I miss when my soul doesn’t sing, doesn’t plead for God.

I’ve grown to recognize and hate that void, those empty times when my soul is parched.

I know it all too well, the way to this desert.   I can find my way without a GPS.

Unfortunately, I’ve navigated it a few too many times over the years.

It begins unintentionally.

I find myself giving God my “last” five minutes of a busy day.

The day turns into a week and before I know it, I am parched, longing and thirsty for God.

Matthew 5:6  

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. ”      

Then sings my soul…  

When I “live” in the land of plenty, of deep waters, of fertile soil,  I am not parched.

My soul is satisfied, my thirst is quenched.

It is then that my soul sings out to God in gratitude.

It is in this abundance of joy, when I’m embracing His daily presence in my life that my heart is elevated to praise.

A lesson learned?  Yes.

A lesson “relearned” year after year?  Yes.

I often wonder … will I ever learn?

 It is only in my time spent with God that I can truly find complete satisfaction.

I “want” to hunger and thirst for Jesus instead of the things of this world.

I “want” to be more like Jesus.

Because I know that “only then,” will I be satisfied.

Look deep into your heart.

Are you parched?  Are you thirsty?

Come out of the desert and into His presence.

Satisfaction, guaranteed.