Interruptions. We all experience them. Sometimes they cause a short-term detour from the course we’ve charted during the day, and other times, they mushroom into a massive event that forces major changes in our lives. Whether caused by another person or just unexpected life circumstances, interruptions usually require additional flexibility, patience, and faith in ways we were unprepared for.
As a person who prefers a well-organized life and schedule, dealing graciously with interruptions has been a life long struggle for me. I hope I have learned to adapt and adjust in a more Christ-like manner as I have gotten older, but those responses most certainly do not come naturally. I also see that when adjustments to my plans are required and I don’t get to control life, there is an opportunity for God to step in and do significant things in my life.
At 6:30 Wednesday morning, an interruption for me came in the form of a kidney stone that decided to attack my body. Ironically, I was
For me, the most difficult part took place over the next 2 hours, as we drove to the hospital and I waited for the medical staff to get me some pain medication. Severe pain, as most of us have experienced, can take over our consciousness, and it became my primary focus for those minutes. As I waited, eyes closed, trying to breathe and survive minute by minute, a worship song started running through my head. The song from Bethel Church called “To Our God” that we sing often in our services became my focus. I silently recited the words “To our God we lift up one voice, to our God we lift up one song …” I’m not exactly sure why this particular song came to mind, and while the lyrics are Biblically solid, it’s not a particularly appropriate one for an occasion of pain and suffering. Perhaps it was still stuck in my head from last Sunday morning’s worship set. I’m not sure. I certainly didn’t have the strength to choose to focus on the song, and I am guessing the Lord brought it to my mind, knowing I was in a moment of weakness. Regardless, I know that as I focused on that song, the Lord allowed me the opportunity to see beyond the pain a bit.
I became aware of people I know who are going through far more difficult situations that I was — friends with severe health problems, hurting relationships, financial challenges, etc. I found myself closing my eyes not just to survive the pain, but to pray for them. I even had several people come to mind that I’ve not thought of in a long time. Although it didn’t lessen the immediate pain, the opportunity to pray for people would not have happened if my day had continued without the "interruption." Eventually, the IV medication started to lessen the pain, and prayer is the last thing I remember doing before I fell asleep for about 30 minutes.
This experience reminded me of a truth I learned long ago, but I need to be reminded of often:
Daily, personal worship (outside of church) is absolutely vital to our spiritual lives.
Even though my vocation includes the privilege of getting to lead worship and participate regularly in church music, I often fall prey to the distractions of life and forget to take time to worship God on my own. On those days, I rob myself of the joy of God’s presence and the amazing things that can happen when I set my focus squarely on HIm. Obviously, singing and expressing worship to God musically is not the only way to focus our attention on the Lord, but music can be a helpful tool to block out distractions and allow God’s presence to envelope us. Once we open our hearts and allow Him to do that, the Holy Spirit has free reign to guide and direct our thoughts, shape our decisions, give wisdom, and direction, etc. That is a good place to be.
I can take no credit for the Lord’s gift of that worship song and the subsequent opportunity to pray for people as I laid on that bed in the Emergency Room. I was certainly not strong enough to choose it … I was merely hoping to survive the experience. However, there are people who would not have come anywhere near my thoughts if it hadn’t been for the interruption of my life and the Lord’s gentle nudge to pray for them. I’m glad for that. (although in hindsight, I wish I’d be a little more tuned into the Holy Spirit so it didn’t require a kidney stone to get my attention!)
This principle of daily worship is one of the main reasons we post the worship lists (and links to listen to the songs) from each weekend at Beaverton Foursquare on this blog. I encourage you to take advantage of them - listen through the songs, sing them in the car or throughout your day, and let the Lord’s presence fill your hearts daily.
Thankful to be a fellow worshiper with you,
Brent
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