Lyrics – Inside Things

These are the lyrics for my album, “Inside Things”. Many of them have a story behind the song and a short devotional to go with the song. I decided to include the story and the devotional. If any of these touch you in a some sort of way, I’d love to hear from you.

To get CDs, downloads or streams, click here.

 1. Enough / Original words by Lidie H. Edmunds, Music by Norse Air, Arranged by W.J. Kirkpatrick, 1838-1921.  New chorus “Enough” lyrics by Frances Drost.

There are pros and cons to being a believer all your life, if you can imagine any cons.  One of the pros of course is that you have the opportunity to learn how to walk with God as a child.  And what are the cons?  You begin to think you have it all figured out.  

You would think that because I’ve known Jesus since I was a little girl, faith would be a settled issue by now.  In some ways it is.  In other ways, I still wrestle.  There are some things that just have to be learned over years of experience.  One of them is how to walk by faith.  

I usually teeter-totter on the edge of dangerous thinking in one of two ways.  Either I begin to think that I am finally getting the hang of prayer, faith, spiritual disciplines, etc. and that I now have ‘made it’ in my spiritual life.  You know, just mix together five tried and true scriptures and bingo, you have a consistent powerful spiritual life with ALL prayers answered. Surely God must want to use me now that I am so good at this thing called Christianity!

The other end of the seesaw can be just as dangerous.  It goes sort of like this in my head;  “Now that you have been walking with God all your life, Frances, don’t you think it’s about time to get over some certain tendencies in your life?”  Either mode of thinking can really send you down the wrong path.

You can see why the lyrics to the old hymn “My Faith Has Found A Resting Place” have in later years presented a wonderful solace to my imbalanced soul. The fact that our faith finds a resting place must mean that there is a struggle.  How comforting to know that I am not the only one who struggles.

I was drawn to this song because I realize that I cannot depend on my goodness for salvation and neither can I banish any hope of eternal life due to my shortcomings as a human.  I can’t argue my own righteousness as a basis for my salvation.  It is Jesus and His work on the cross and that alone.  Neither can I say that I am too bad for His love and His resurrection.  That is exactly why He came.  

The day I get good enough for His love and redemption is the day I have to say – “you have no argument, Frances.  It is His grace that has saved you”.  The day that I am too bad for His love is the day I have to say, “I need no other plea.  It is enough that Jesus died and that He died for me”.

It’s enough that Jesus not only died, but rose from the grave, and now lives at the right hand of the Father praying for us!  That is enough.  Truly, faith finds a resting place.

Ephesians 1:6-7:  “So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.”

Question to ponder:

Do you have a tendency to depend on your works to earn God’s love or do you lean the other way too far and think you have gone too far over the edge for Him to love you and give you eternal hope?  Sing this old song with new hope!  What Jesus did for you is certainly enough!

Song lyrics:

My faith has found a resting place / not in device or creed / I trust the ever living one / His wounds for me shall plead / I need no other argument / I need no other plea / it is enough for me that Jesus died and that He died for me /

IT’S ENOUGH THAT JESUS DIED / IT’S ENOUGH THAT JESUS ROSE / IT’S ENOUGH THAT JESUS LIVES / AND THAT HE LIVES FOR ME /

Enough for me that Jesus lives / this ends my fear and my doubt / A sinful soul I come to Him / He’ll never cast me out / I need no argument /  I need no other plea / it is enough for me that Jesus died and that He died for me /

My heart is leaning on the Word / the living Word of God / Salvation by my Savior’s name / Salvation through His blood / I need no other argument / I need no other plea / it is enough for me that Jesus died and that He died for me /

2. In the Hands of the Lord / By Frances Drost

On the dresser beside her bed / Sat a bowl filled with money she’d kept through the years / For times like these / Every penny she had she would set aside / So that one day she’d have enough to buy / Her children all that they’d need /

AND THOUGH IT’S NOT MUCH / IT’S AMAZING HOW QUICKLY IT GROWS TO BE SOMETHING OF WORTH / IN THE HANDS OF ALMIGHTY / WHAT SEEMS TO BE TINY / WILL STRETCH NOW TO BE JUST ENOUGH / ‘CAUSE LITTLE CAN BE SO MUCH MORE WHEN IT’S ALL IN THE HANDS OF THE LORD

On the little red chair by the window he sits / He prays for his family / And names them one by one / There is little that he now is able to share / But he gives of time, his love and his prayer / And God knows that is enough /

So do not despair / In the small things He’s there / It will add up to be something great /

3. Shatter the Glass / By Frances Drost

I suppose that anyone looking in through the windows of my house would think I am rather cruel to one of my cats, Lacy.  She often sits at the sliding door in my kitchen and looks with longing at the outdoors.  The problem is I have a fear based on past experiences.  I have lost my former cats to unexplained disappearances when they somehow slip outside.  

I have no desire to lose another pet to the busy road or sudden vanishing acts so I am quite selfish and protective. Therefore, I don’t let Lacy outside even though she begs profusely.  If Lacy could only know that she was the inspiration for a song, I think my selfish behavior would be vindicated.  

I was sitting in my yard one afternoon doing writing exercises from a song writing book and chose her as an object to write about.  She was sitting there looking longingly toward me as I enjoyed the sunny afternoon.  She wanted out I’m sure.

I began to ponder how we too are often caught behind windows.  Windows of perception.  We feel caged in by fears, old thinking patterns or perhaps what someone else thinks of us.  Though there is a sense of comfort in our ‘cage’, we realize at times that there must be more and that we would really prefer to be free.  We were created to be free.  Somewhere down deep inside of us, we know this.

It might seem to take years to break out of our cages, but in one moment, someone can shatter our glass, take our hand and help us begin to look at things differently.

I find in my own life that the best way for me to change my thinking is to renew my mind with the Word of God.  When we receive Christ into our hearts and lives, we “become a new creation.  The old things have passed away, all things are made new”.   But to get our mind and body to start behaving in a way that lines up with our newly created heart, we must change our mind. Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.”  (NLT)

As our thinking begins to change, those old patterns slowly begin to change.  It might take years, but eventually that window will shatter and we will walk in freedom in that area of our life.

Philippians 4:8  “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Question to ponder:

Is there an area of your life in which you wish you could be free?  If you began to fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure and lovely – how would that change what you think presently?

Song lyrics:

I have stared out this window / For way too many years / Can’t anyone see my inside tears? / Looks of longing call to you / Let me out of this window / Let me go /

SHATTER THE GLASS / OPEN THE DOOR / I DON’T CARE HOW / THERE’S GOT TO BE MORE / GIVE ME YOUR HAND / PULL ME FROM HERE / LET ME SEE THE VIEW FROM HEAVEN /

Though it’s safe in this window / It’s not as it appears / Can’t anyone hear my cries of fear? / Looks of longing call to you / Let me out of this window / Let me go /

Life clouds up my window / Makes it hard to see / Can’t anyone clear these clouds for me? / Looks of longing call to you / Let me out of this window / Let me go

4. Inside Things / By Frances Drost

It never ceases to amaze me how you can read a portion of scripture all your life and one morning get up, read it again and have it strike you as if you never saw it before.  That was the case with the passage in Romans 8 where it lists lots of things that will try to separate us from the love of God.  

I began to notice that so many of the things listed were things that come from the ‘outside’ so to speak.  For instance, I don’t know if I’ve ever truly suffered persecution for my faith.  I only hear about it in other countries.  I have only ever gone hungry because I chose to fast or was too busy to eat.

I have certainly experienced what it’s like to lose loved ones, so check death off the list.  I am sure that angels protect me – I’ve had enough close encounters on my motorcycle to know that there must be angels protecting me.  I believe that there are demons that roam the earth and hassle believers, though I can’t say I’ve ever seen one literally, that I know of, so check that one off too.  Since we don’t wrestle flesh and blood, people don’t count!

Fears for today and worries about tomorrow?  Well I have to say I’ve been guilty of those, but I don’t know that they make me feel unloved by my Abba Father.  

I began to discuss this with God, which I often do when I have thoughts.  It went something like this: “Father, I think my biggest hindrance to receiving your love for me is not these big outside things (that’s what I call them).  It’s me.”

I have been tempted to think sometimes that if I could be a hermit and live out in the mountains and not see or hear anything bad, totally isolated from other people, I could be a great person.  It’s other people that give us the problems right?  But the truth is, I can conjure up some depressing thoughts and attitudes without a single person around me.  I can feel pretty down about who I am in a crowd or by myself.

I began to write the song that has become one of the themes of my life.  I want to live my life letting God look deep inside me and deal with the hidden things no matter where I live.

I love how this passage ends.  Nothing can separate us from His love.  I think both outside forces and inside problems fall under the category of nothing!

Romans 8:38-39:  “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Question to ponder:

What kinds of things in this list try to separate you from God’s love?  Is it outside forces or inside attitudes of the heart?  Talk about these things with God and ask Him to help you know how much He truly loves you.

Song lyrics:

Sometimes I think if I could hide myself away / From the world and all I see / I’d be a better person / If I could live somewhere / Far away from here / Ignore the things I hear / I could live this life perfectly /

BUT IT’S NOT THE OUTSIDE THINGS THAT KEEP ME FROM YOU / IT’S MY HEART / ALL THE INSIDE THINGS / IT’S NOT THE OUTSIDE THINGS THAT KEEP ME FROM YOUR LOVE / IT’S MY DOUBT / ALL THE INSIDE THINGS

I know a place I could lay the blame / For the pain I feel inside / Though I know I shouldn’t do it / And I’d like to say / It’s all another’s fault / That I’m not living free / But it’s not in them it’s all in me /

The outside only mirrors what’s inside of me / A true reflection of the grace I truly need /

5. Missin’ You / By Frances Drost

My parents had a wonderful tradition when I was growing up.  It wasn’t until after my father died that I found out it was his idea.  Every April I would look forward to a special birthday dinner given in honor of my birth.  Since I was born in April, lilacs were usually the featured centerpiece gracing the china place settings.

My mother only used the china for special occasions such as this and to this day china represents something delightful to me.  When my father was diagnosed with cancer and his condition worsened, my mother began serving him his meals on the china for no other reason than to add some brightness to a very dark season.

But my story isn’t about the various uses for china.  It’s about the lilac bouquets on my birthday and a permanent bouquet given to me by my parents.  

For my birthday one year, they gave me a beautiful blueish/purple lilac bush so I’d have purple to add to my already growing white bushes.  I looked forward to the years when the little tree would finally produce and I could have my own bouquet plucked directly from my very own yard.

It was a real disappointment when every spring the little purple blooms would turn to black overnight after a bad frost.  For years, that bush never made it to it’s full blooming stage and my vase could only be filled with the white lilacs.  

In 2000, my father went to the doctor with some recurring symptoms and after a couple of months of testing and searching, it turned out that he had multiple myeloma.  The doctors gave him about five years to live.  I still remember hearing the news and trying to hold back the tears as I walked into his hospital room.  This was my daddy.  We had bailed hay, worked the fields, played piano and violin duets together and shared a mutual love for our farm animals.  He had been more than a father to me.  He had been my friend.  He died the following Spring on the last day of May, 2001.  That was a short five years and a very rough nine months.

The first Spring after his passing I happened to notice that the little purple lilac bush was  showing off its fully formed flowers for the first time and yes, they were purple, not black.  I couldn’t believe my eyes.  In honor of my father it seemed, I had my first variety of color to add to my lilac palette.  

As I sat in the yard with my guitar, just doodling, a melody began to come to me right along with the words.   In no time at all, I had written the song ‘missin’ you’.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4: “There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven.  A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to harvest, a time to kill and a time to heal.  A time to tear down and a time to rebuild.  A time to cry and a time to laugh.  A time to grieve and a time to dance.”  (NLT)

Question to ponder:

This isn’t a question to ponder.  If you have lost someone recently, consider it permission to grieve for them and allow yourself a few tears because you are truly missing them.

Song lyrics: 

Well we’ve seen another winter come and go / All the lilacs are blooming / There’s no more snow / But I miss you more than ever / And the saying’s not true / That time will heal / ‘Cause I’ve been missin’ you

All the birds have been singing their regular tunes / And in our feeder out back we’ve been seeing quite a few / Like a yellow gold finch and a sparrow or two / But when I see them gather / I’ll be missin’ you

SPRINGTIME REMINDS ME OF YOU / IN THE WINTER SEASON I’M THINKING OF YOU / AND IF TIME IS A HEALER / THEN IT’S MOVING PRETTY SLOW / ‘CAUSE I’VE SEEN ANOTHER SEASON AND I’M MISSING YOU

It’s been a couple years since we let  you go / But a myriad of memories let the tear drops flow / Like the curve in your smile and your eyes of blue / And they still remind me that I’m missing you

There’s a time to be planting and a time to reap / A time to be laughing and a time to weep / And I’ve done it all / That is certainly true / But whether laughing or crying I’ll be missing you

6. I Can Pray / By Frances Drost

My family is no stranger to tragedy.  My mother’s first husband died after only 2 years of marriage. He was knocked off the scaffolding while building a silo. He survived for a few days in a coma, but passed away shortly after.  She was a widow at age 25, left with their 7 month old son, Doug.

After 7 years of widowhood, she met and married my father.  Together, they had 4 children of whom I am the baby.  My brother, Nathan, born less than two years before me died at the age of 2.

When I was 7, I remember the Pastor coming to our farm to give us the news of yet another tragedy.  Her first son Doug, had been killed on a farm where he worked.  They found him pinned underneath a tractor, unsure of the exact details.  He was so badly bruised they had a ‘closed-casket’ funeral.  Not too many years after that, my mother’s parents passed away.  

Death was a normal part of our family discussions it seemed.  I heard the stories over and over as a child and I will never forget the potent feelings that accompanied them.

You might think that with all this tragedy I would be able to write about my own family when it came time to write a song about prayer.  My mother believes in the power of prayer and I believe that is what carried her through the tumultuous years.  I grew up with prayer being a natural part of my life.  We often prayed that the cows would come home when they broke out of the barnyard.  

When I was asked to sing for a local “National Day of Prayer” event, I was dissatisfied with the list of songs I knew about prayer.  Not that there aren’t good ones, I just felt they weren’t saying what I wanted to say.  So naturally, I set out to write my own thoughts. But I couldn’t seem to write anything about prayer no matter how hard I tried.  

Then it happened.  The news came of a tragic accident involving a young boy I knew.  Immediately the melody and lyric flowed, as I knew what I wanted to write.  I knew that in times like this, there is so little we can say to a hurting family.  But we can certainly talk to our Abba Father for them and love them.

I remember when my father was in his final stages of life, dying with cancer.  A friend came and simply sat beside me in the waiting room.  She didn’t say a word and had no scriptures or revelation for me, she just sat there.  She’ll never know what that meant to me!  

If you know of someone experiencing pain beyond words, please know that there is something you can do for them, even if they never know.  You can pray.

Ephesians 6:18:  “Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.”

Question to ponder:

Is there someone in your life whom you know is hurting right now?  Pray for them and in your prayers, also ask God if there is anything you can do to help them?

Song lyrics:

Her little baby died today / They couldn’t bring him back they say / And she never had a chance to say goodbye / She cries / They said it was an accident / But now she blames herself for it / And there’s nothing I can say that can take away her pain / And set her free

BUT I CAN PRAY / I CAN REACH HEAVEN FOR HER HEART / I CAN PRAY / TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS MORE THAN I / AND UNDERSTANDS THE PAINFUL PART OF LIVING / EVEN WHEN I DON’T / I CAN PRAY

His little heart is torn in two / They say his mom and dad are through / And they’ve tried to make it clear / It’s not his fault / No matter what they try to say / He’s still feeling like he’s to blame / So I take his tiny hand / Try to help him understand / But it’s no use

BUT I CAN PRAY / I CAN REACH HEAVEN FOR HIS HEART / I CAN PRAY / TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS MORE THAN I / AND UNDERSTANDS THE PAINFUL PART OF LIVING / EVEN WHEN I DON’T / I CAN PRAY

My earthly words take hold with power from on high / And make a difference in this life / Somehow

 7. What You Delight in / By Frances Drost

I was serving as Director of Worship at my church and though I resisted being scheduled to do much in the way of special music, I did take my turn once in a while. When it came to be my turn one Sunday, I decided to ask the Pastor for his sermon notes.  I always like to try and do a song that fits with the message or theme of the day so as to compliment whatever is happening.  If one doesn’t exist, I write it.

It was clear that the sermon was going to have a distinct theme to it and as I began to work at the song, the theme became crystal clear.  Prayer is a multi-faceted subject that you could spend years studying from so many different angles.  This particular message however, was simple.  

Prayer should not just be about our petitions and intercessions, though there certainly is a place for those kinds of prayers.  In fact, we are encouraged many times throughout the scripture to pray with persistence and with faith that God hears our requests.  But prayer is also a chance to listen to God and to take time to be still in His presence.  It is a mutual sharing of hearts and thoughts.  It is both talking and listening.  

Prayer is a breath of fresh air in a sometimes very stale world.  I have found just as much strength from just sitting and being quiet as I have from talking non-stop about all the things that concern me.  After years of walking with the Lord, I have to say that the one discipline I still return to over and over is that of being quiet.  

Many times I start out by saying, “Father, I’m here today to listen to you.  I want to know what You think about things and what’s on Your heart for today.  I’m perplexed about this or that, but I want to take time to just sit and listen for Your voice.”  Then I get quiet and wait.  Sometimes my mind starts to wander and I have to force it back into focusing on listening.  Sometimes I refer back to the scripture I had been reading and then let my mind get quiet again. 

Most times I don’t hear anything right away.  I find that later in the day or week, all of a sudden a thought will come to me and I find an answer to my question or clarity to the perplexing issue I was troubled about.  I call it “planting seeds of listening and later reaping a harvest of hearing”.

I want to approach my Father with the attitude of a listening ear, not just a chattering mouth.

Isaiah 30:15:  “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.” (NLT)

Question to ponder:

How much time do you spend telling God everything you need compared to the time you spend just sitting and being silent in His presence?  Do you need to do any adjusting so you can find out what it is that He delights in?

Song lyrics:

I’m not here to pray for peace / And I’m not here to pray for me / I’m not here for anything but You / I’m not here to talk of me / Or fill Your time with all my dreams / I just want a heart that’s after You / And all that You love

 SEE WHAT YOU DELIGHT IN / IS ALL THAT MY HEART IS FALLING FOR / AND WHAT YOU DELIGHT IN / IS ALL THAT MY FEET ARE WALKING TOWARD / I WANT TO KNOW THE GOD WHO LOVES ME AS I AM / I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU DELIGHT IN

You’re not here for do’s and don’ts / A set of rules to say by rote / You’re not here for anything but me / You’re not here for sacrifice / No a broken heart is what You like / You just want a heart that’s after You / And all that You love

So I come to You / I believe in You / And I know I’ll find You / When I seek You with all of my heart

8. Pond Beside the Barn / By Frances Drost

One beautiful October day, I picked up the phone and was pleasantly surprised to hear the voice of my brother, Adriel.  He is nine years older than I and though our careers have taken us in very different directions I continually discover many more things that I have in common with him than I ever realized. 

There’s one exception however.  I have no desire to dangle my feet out over the edge of a nose-less airplane and take pictures while flying the aircraft with a Gyro stick velcroed to my leg, which is what he does as one of the world’s top aerial photographers.  I prefer to have both feet firmly planted on the ground in front of a grand piano.

On the phone, he asked me what the weather was like that particular day.  We were experiencing one of those perfect days when the weather is crisp, the sky is crystal clear and the leaves are hinting of change and he seemed nostalgic as I told him.

He responded with a distinct pleasantness in his voice, “ah, yes, when I hear you talk of blue skies….” and my mind trailed off into song writing mode.  That simple phrase alone; “when I hear you talk of blue skies” gave me the idea for a song.

I finished up our phone conversation and began to pursue the song idea.  I pondered the month of October and what it meant to our family history.  Adriel was born in October.  So was another brother, Nathan.  Unfortunately, he also died in October.

Nathan Carl was only one and a half years older than I and was apparently entertaining me one day as I sat out in my high chair near our farm pond.  My mother had put us both outside for a while and went back into the house to do something.  She wasn’t gone very long when she came back outside and couldn’t find Nathan, who had just turned two a few days earlier.

She frantically began to search for him and was devastated to spot his little red jacket floating in the pond.  As she retrieved the jacket and his body from the pond, she tried to resuscitate him, but it was too late. 

I have never really felt closure to that chapter of our lives.  Perhaps it’s why I tend to write so many songs with death scenarios, as my producer would point out to me in the midst of writing for the project “Inside Things”.   It’s a pattern I never noticed in my writing. 

Perhaps in a way, part of my heart does still live back on that farm, for it feels as if a part of me went with Nathan that day. 

When I share this song, I often hear someone else’s story of their ‘pond beside the barn’.  Even though the circumstances are different in each story, the feelings are the same.  We miss them and we have a special place in our hearts for the location of their death.  But more than that, we are not alone.  Many others have a ‘pond beside the barn’ story just waiting to be shared.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4:  “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

Question to ponder:

Is there a story you have to share about your own life that would be an encouragement to someone else currently experiencing some of the same things you experienced?  Consider giving them a call, taking them to lunch or sending them a card to let them know you care.

Song lyrics:

It was early in October / On our little farm in Gardners / When we lost our little brother / In the pond beside the barn

Every time I see the water / It’s so easy to remember / How it felt to lose a brother / In the pond beside the barn

AND THOUGH I’M NOT THERE ANYMORE / AND THEY SAY HOME IS WHERE YOUR HEART IS / MY HEART COULD LIVE MOST ANYWHERE / STILL MY HEART IS WHERE THAT HOME WAS

When I hear you talk of blue skies / When I hear you tell of colored leaves / I can see that little farm now / And the pond beside the barn

And though I’ve lived in other places / Even they could not erase this / So I guess you’d say my heart lives / Near the pond beside the barn

Though I know the land is different now / And the road you take is changed somehow / I know I’d find it just by looking out / For the pond beside the barn

9. Wonderfully Created / By Frances Drost

One Friday afternoon I was getting ready to leave for a weekend booking that was a bit scary for me.  A group of teenage girls were going to have a weekend slumber party.  Somehow I let the person planning the weekend talk me into being the entertainment and spiritual guru for two days.

I’m one of those morning people that night owls despise.  I prefer early sunrises over late sunsets.  The thought of staying up into the night with a wild bunch of girls had me a bit nervous.  How many caffeine pills can you take at one time?

The theme for the weekend was “I am fearfully and wonderfully made”.  I was putting the finishing touches on my notes to share with the girls from Psalm 139 when a melody began to play unrestrained in my head.  I remember thinking to myself NOT NOW, as if the melody would hear me and go away.  I didn’t have time to write a song to go with the weekend though that seemed like a wondrous idea.

I got out my scratch pad and began writing down a few lyrics. (Never argue with an idea). I decided that trying to finish the song would be one of our exercises as a group sometime Saturday when we were brain dead after very little sleep.  It was a great exercise considering the fact that I don’t think many of them if any of them had ever written a song before.

Years later, when the song idea made the final list for the CD and I completed the lyrics, I was up early the first day of recording trying to get not only my voice warmed up, but my heart too.  What better way to prepare for recording this song than to study Psalm 139 again to refresh my memory.  Right?

I wasn’t prepared for what happened next.  When I got to verse 14 where David says “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it.”  (NLT) I could sense that familiar voice I’ve come to love and sometimes run from.  It was the voice of the Holy Spirit.  I felt Him asking me to speak those words out loud as if to affirm that I too was grateful that He made me and not only wonderfully, but complex.

This might not seem like such a big thing to you, but it was for me.  I had been struggling for years with self-esteem issues and He had already been putting His finger on this area of my life.  To read these words in my mind was one thing, but I realized when I went to speak them out loud, I couldn’t do it because I didn’t feel like they were true.  

I knew that He only points out dark areas in our lives, so He can bring light.  Though I struggled to obey, I eventually spoke the words out loud that morning.  For the next year, I began to speak these words out loud whenever I began to feel that black cloud of low self-esteem try to suffocate my heart.  I would say “thank you for making me so wonderful” out loud.  As I began to speak these words, over time, I began to notice that the cloud was coming around less often.  I’m thankful for mostly sunny skies these days.

Psalm 139:14 “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” (NLT)

Question to ponder:

Now it’s your turn.  Say the words “Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex.  Your workmanship is marvelous!” out loud.

What happens on the inside of you when you do?  

Is there something that the Holy Spirit might want to help you with regarding how you feel about yourself?  

Song Lyrics:

I am fearfully and wonderfully created / Every part of me was carefully designed with love / In my mother’s womb you knit me all together / I was skillfully fashioned by You

MANY ARE YOUR THOUGHTS OF ME / WONDERFUL YOUR LOVE TO ME ME LORD /

I am fearfully and wonderfully created / From what you see to who I really am inside / And no matter where I think I might try going / You’re already there waiting for me

I am fearfully and wonderfully created / And You love me Lord, as if I were Your only child / In the womb of time You’re holding me securely / From the cradle to the grip of the grave

I am fearfully and wonderfully created / You know everything there ever is to know of me / Like an open book You read across the pages / Won’t You finish what You started in me

 10. I Know God / By Frances Drost

Many seeds are planted / Who can say if they will grow? / I don’t know / Many fields are growing / Who can say if they will last? / I don’t know

BUT I KNOW GOD / I KNOW HE’S FAITHFUL / AND I KNOW GOD / HE’LL BRING THE RAIN / YES I KNOW GOD / THE SUN WILL SHINE ON US / LIKE THOSE BEFORE US / AND THOSE WHO FOLLOW / I KNOW GOD

Many words are spoken / Who can say we understand? / I don’t know / Many hearts will hear us / Who can say if they believe? / I don’t know

I know enough to know there is little that I know / But I believe that He is good and He is true