This article first appeared on The Christian Broadcasting Network |
I have such a love for music that I can’t just turn on one album at a time— I literally shuffle all my songs every day and listen to my collection like a radio station. The only difference between my shuffle playlist and a real radio station is that all my genres are mixed together! So one minute I might be listening to worship, the next minute Christmas, the next song upbeat hip-hop, followed by a hymn!
Recently, while my phone was blue-toothed to my stereo in my car, an old song came on that made my adult kids say, “Wow! It’s your song mom!” What they meant was, that’s the song you made us listen to over and over and over as kids. And it’s true— it was an all-time favorite (still is), called “He Sees Me in Him” by Cindy Black.
When I met Cindy and received one of her CDs, I was a young mom, still fairly young in my faith although I was a pastor’s wife, and my heart was still learning how to receive God’s love in spite of my imperfect life.
The chorus grabbed my heart.
The words to the song spoke of God’s plan to resurrect and save mankind, expressing God’s desire to restore glory to His creation through His Son, Jesus. But it was the chorus that grabbed my heart every time I heard it that ministered to me:
“Now when He sees me, He sees me in Him.
He no longer sees a sinner, an outcast, or a beggar, or what I once had been.
He sees me through the blood, the cross, and the resurrection.
He sees me raised up seated next to Him in heaven.
When He sees me, He sees me in Him.”
The song goes on and talks about our life in Christ and the righteousness we’ve received in Jesus, how we’ve been set free and can now boldly go into the throne room of grace without condemnation.
Every word described the inner thoughts and struggles of my heart. I would turn the song on at home, in the car, on a walk, and just listen and cry. It was healing for my soul. There were many healing tears. But more than that, God used this song to open my eyes to truths I’d never known.
David said in the Psalms, “There’s a private place reserved for the lovers of God, where they sit near Him and receive the revelation-secrets of His promises” (Psalm 25:14, TPT).
Another translation says, “The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant” (NKJV).
Despite my insecurities, I absolutely loved God. I loved that He loved me. And as I listened to that song, I began to embrace the truth that God wasn’t looking on who I once was, but really saw and accepted me through His Son Jesus.
It was just a couple of years after I received this song (and wore it out) that God asked me to write. At first I didn’t have a clue how to be a writer, or what would I write about? But when I yielded to His nudging, suddenly a plethora of revelation came pouring out of my heart and found its way through my fingertips on to pages and typewriters. But it wasn’t unknown revelation— it was a deep collection of revelation-secrets God had given me in our private time.
Revelation-secrets, my private place.
My quiet time with God, reading His Word, and meditating on His truths, has always been a high priority for me. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. And because of the Word I have hidden in my heart, I can hear and see God through many avenues— including all my genres of music (Christian genres, I’ll add)!
So whatever your thing is, I hope it leads you to a private place with God. He has revelation-secrets stored up for you as well.
