Hum Along with Me
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Psalm 4:6-8 NIV
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
This state of being is what we achieve when we follow yesterday’s message! When we completely and absolutely place our trust and hope in God, we have no need to worry or fret about anything! Perhaps that when should really be “if.” We have the best of intentions. We commit on a regular basis to rely upon God and His will for us and for our lives. Then we take it back. We decide we’re tired of waiting on Him and take matters into our own hands. Dr. Phil is certainly shaking his head.
So what does our life look like when we finally figure out that we only have to please God, only have to live up to His image of us, only have to dwell in the safety and protection of His gaze? Well, I am known as a hummer – people have told me they can tell I’m coming before they ever see me, because they hear my humming. I’m not even aware of it! So I guess that is one way my joy in the Lord has manifested itself. I listen to Christian music throughout a good portion of my day – in my car, and at work. It keeps me centered. It helps me remember whose I am. It makes me hum!
There’s a bigger picture here, though. It’s about more than just humming. It’s about taking a deep breath and breathing in God’s love and peace. It’s about going out into the world without fear or concern for personal safety. Of course we need to be careful—but we don’t need to cower in fear. Of course we should lock our doors and look around before we head for the parking lot—but we don’t stop going out to the mall! Even more than that: we allow God to dwell in us – to be a driving force in all of our decisions, our plans, our hopes and dreams.
We don’t have to stop and ask ourselves, “What would Jesus Do?” Because we already know the answer. And all we have to do if we forget the answer is to open the Bible. He trusted His life to His Heavenly Father – Our Heavenly Father. In Gethsemane He asked God to take the cup of crucifixion from Him. But he added: “Not my will, but yours.” That’s what it looks like when we live out today’s verses. We are at peace with ourselves and with God because we have given over our very existence to Him and His will.
My prayer today is that you will dwell in the safety of the Lord. And you might try humming a tune—it will make people wonder what you’re so happy about!
Mary
