Lent Day 7: Ultimate and Intimate Audience

"Call to Me

and I will answer you . . ."

-- Jeremiah 33:3, NASB

Well-known and beloved by so many, the hymn Holy, Holy, Holy prompts us to croon: 

“. . . Early in the morning, 

my song shall rise to Thee . . .” 

The above thought is excerpted from yet another hymn written by another composer—Psalm 5, a song King David wrote for the Israelites to sing with flute accompaniment. The first three verses read,

“Give ear to my words, O Lord; 

consider my sighing. 

Listen to my cry for help, 

my King and my God, 

for to You I pray. 

In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice. 

In the morning I lay my requests before You 

and wait in expectation.” (NIV)

The above words give us reason to pause and ponder on this seventh Lenten morning. The hymn lyrics suggest that there is a song that comes out of us and rises to the Father. Additionally, the verses imply that there is a desire within us to know that God’s ear is attentive to our speaking, sighing, and crying. Together, they reveal to our hearts that, from our earliest waking moments on any given day, every image we see, every thought we muse, every word we utter, every look we render, every attitude we portray is part of the melody that we sing and lift up to God.

Yet, there are many ways to categorize the “songs” we sing. 

Would our viewing the images that flood the screen of our smartphones and computers be best categorized as a hymn of praise or a song of entitlement to our most holy God? 

Would the glances and looks we exchange with those who see the pre-coffee version of us be reflective of a regal anthem dedicated to the King of kings? 

Would the words that readily cascade from our lips be best portrayed as a selfish soliloquy or a grateful dialog with our Redeemer and Friend? 

Would the thoughts that crowd our brains be best labeled as sonnets of wisdom or foolish ditties?

Would the attitudes we portray ring like sweet melodies or unpleasant tunes to Christ's ear?

This morning, you and I are reminded of an important truth: 

God is both our ultimate and intimate audience. 

As such, He is not merely interested in passively watching what we do; He desires for us to request His presence in our lives as an active participant from our first to our last waking moment every single day. He longs for us to have Him in mind as we tackle every task. 

He graciously invites us to rend our hearts -- giving first priority to His ear, His eyes, His heart. He readily beckons us to come to Him first and foremost with all of our cares. He lovingly promises to receive our heartaches, failures, torments, and the like.

The following lyrics have been ministering to my heart during this season:

"I'm trading my sorrow

I'm trading my pain

I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness

I'm trading my pain

I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord"

-- Extracted from Trading My Sorrows, Darrell Evans

So, we can pray and say:

Lord, trouble is on my right; trouble is on my left. Above me there is pain, below me there is suffering. My tears have been my food day and night and everywhere I look dark clouds surround me. So, I am calling to You today. I surrender my burdens to You because You, O Lord, are Immanuel -- the God who is always with me in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want. 

Graciously, the Father does hear our cries. 

He knows the obstacles we encounter. 

His eyes see our pain. 

So, early in the morning and throughout our waking hours, may we remember to turn to our ultimate audience, to lay our requests before our intimate audience, and to wait expectantly for what He will reveal in response! It is in His nature to answer because He delights in revealing Himself to His people. May we commit whatever issue we face into His hands instead of grumbling, sighing out of frustration, or crying out of desperation! May we trust His ear, His hand, and His heart with all of our requests!