Dear Gary and Darren, and John . . .
I am basking in that prayer song this morning, “Put Us In Order, Lord.”
I don’t quite know how to express this, but I’ll try. . .
I’ve been thinking about the songs the Lord has given—and continues to give—and it’s almost inexplicable to me. . . they are SO beautiful. . . and I’ve been wondering. . . how they seem to be only for those hearts and souls that are yielding to this truth, as if the songs are already in God’s repertoire and He delivers them to Darren, or to Gray, or Donna, etc., one by one, to each according to their particular talents and styles, in order for His particular message or teaching or healing to be administered to those individuals who love Jesus, and love the truth. For example, brother Troy was significantly touched by “The Father Dwelt in Thick Black Darkness”, which has drawn him closer to the Truth and to the Body. Michelle has fallen more in love with Jesus lately, partly because of the influence of some wonderful songs. Others have their own individual favorites that stir their souls. These songs go deep, in different ones, for different reasons. They speak to the heart, through the holy Spirit, in ways that are so remarkably different than any other music.
Christian music doesn’t even come close. In most cases, Christian songs don’t come from God to the musician. They come from the musician, oftentimes from a heart that still hasn’t been truly cleansed by God. There’s a peculiar quality in Christian music that seems to be trying too hard to praise God; I’ve heard some that sound as if they’re straining to worship God, or trying to deliver a message or a feeling that isn’t there, so they struggle to express it in a forced, worldly way, like a “lament” or a “blues” kind of style. Poor souls: that’s all they know. Christian songs talk ABOUT God, but our songs are FROM GOD, and express His truths, and His ways, and His feelings—in a personal, intimate way!!!! And God’s people who’ve been caught up in the snare of Christianity for so long are usually numb to the feelings that are raining down on us in these songs. I’ve given many gifts of CDs to people, only to find out later that they listened once or twice and that was it. Instead, they prefer the familiar profane music of Christianity (of the world) to this pure music that has true healing ability. Even dear holy-Ghost-filled brothers and sisters cannot hear our music in the same way that we do, because they’ve been polluted and deadened by the styles of other religious music. They might sense a glimmer of radiance in some of our songs, but they fail to pursue it; they don’t hunger for more. Some have even returned the CDs to me, and thanked me, politely, with no explanation. Their condition is all too obvious, and sad.
Well, to each his own, I suppose. But give me Jesus, night and Day; give me Jesus all the way.
Gary, this new song is a perfect blend of your lyrics—your personal testimony; and Darren’s nimble guitar embellishments, and John and Donna’s holy voices…
It will remain in my heart all day long, because I need to stay under the “order” that is expressed in this song. It is truly a prayer that ought to stay on our hearts all the time.
Love,
Brad