Wednesday, August 10, 2011

HEDGE OF PROTECTION

OK, wanna know a pet peeve of mine?

Those dumb TV jingles that just get stuck in your head.

They play over and over like a needle stuck in the groove of a record (any youngsters out there, just ask your parents, or grandparents what a record is…oh dear I'm getting older…)

Know what I mean?

Their annoying little tunes just rattle around and refuse to be quiet. And I'll tell you what – they DO NOT make me want to buy the product. In fact, even if I might consider buying it, I will not just because of the stupid jingle. I'm a stubborn old coot –

So, over the last few months, I've noticed something unusual happening in my head…

I'm waking up with random Christian songs in my head. And throughout the day, they keep playing over and over. At first, I found this a little upsetting – and yes, a little annoying. It's that *jingle thing* I thought. (Plus, it really bugs me that though these tunes won't go away, for the life of me I can "oh so easily" forget where I put my glasses or my keys! GRRR…)

But then, the Holy Spirit gave me this tremendous insight.

"Sharon, these songs and lyrics are not *randomly* appearing in your head. Don't you know that I have hand-picked them for you? I am working in your subconscious so you can wake up every day with a literal song in your heart!"

WOW!

And then, He said this:

"And another thing, Sharon. When those songs go rattling around in your head during the day, it makes it harder for the enemy to enter your thoughts, doesn't it?"

Yeah, He's got a point there.

"It's My way of placing a hedge of protection around you. Is that OK?"

Oh boy – you bet it is!

So, I've been keeping track of what the Holy Spirit has been giving me this past week. And it's not the songs themselves that are reaching and protecting me – it's the truth behind the lyrics…


And it's all because of Jesus that I'm alive…

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb…You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book." (Psalms 139:13, 16)

He's the Alpha, Omega, Beginning and End – He's my Savior, Messiah, Redeemer, and friend…

"Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me…I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End…I am the bright morning star." (Revelation 22:12, 16)

Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey…

"…we will obey the LORD our God…For if we obey him, everything will turn out well for us." (Jeremiah 42:6)

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus…

"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!" (Isaiah 26:3)

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Thou has bought us, Thine we are…

"Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30)

All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give – All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all…

"…I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice…" (Romans 12:1)

I am a child of God – oh, that's who I am…

"But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12)

I'm falling on my knees, offering all of me – Jesus You're all this heart is living for…

"I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6)

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe…

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory…

"Those who have been ransomed by the LORD will return. They will enter…singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness." (Isaiah 35:10)


These were ten of the songs that mysteriously (and miraculously?!) made their way into my heart.

And in every good sense, I have felt fenced in all week!


What songs minister deeply to your heart?


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

10 comments:

  1. Oh Sharon... I love this! You know MUSIC speaks to me but this is so wonderful and to think the Spirit sung these to you as His way of Protection, just fills me with JOY and delight! Each song and the verse reveals just a wonderful story of His Redemption and glorious grace! The Truth just flows so beautifully! Yes, I love this and speaks to me deeply. I love the initial conversation also!

    I hope everyone shares a song...
    I never thought of them popping in my head like a "jingle" nor did I think it was the Holy Spirit singing and placing them there as His protection of my mind and purifying my thoughts. I have songs pop in all the time so now I need to think of a verse that goes with them to drive that truth home.

    I thought I would share one that popped in my head yesterday, but with all your songs, it was hard to focus on one and as I tried to remember (senior moment)...this one just came in:

    "In Your presence Lord, in Your presence Lord,
    I desire to be continually in Your Presence Lord
    As I lift my hands before You, I lay down all my..."


    brief interruption... so the song changes to:

    I just want to be where You are, dwelling daily in Your Presence...I don't want to worship from afar, draw me near to where You are... I want to be where You are... dwelling in Your presence, feasting at Your table, surrounded by Your glory...

    Often Don Moen worship songs pop in my head... or Paul Wilbur...

    "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Exodus 33:14

    And as tears well up in my eyes, another sound interrupts, and I resume with this one...

    "Here in Your Presence, beholding Your Glory..."


    Have a blessed day and thanks for the songs,
    Peggy
    (I have not even signed in yet, but saw an email
    also...bless you)

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  2. Hi Sharon, often a old hymn/song pops in my head during the day and many times I do awake with a song on my lips in the morning. A few tunes that I can think of that's been in my mind or on my lips this week include:

    Oh how I love Jesus, Oh how I love Jesus
    Because He first loved me.

    Jesus is on the mainline tell Him what you.
    Call Him up and tell what you want.

    Jesus I'll never forget what you done for me.
    How can I forget, no never!

    You know what else happens to me at times? I have little phrases that are impressed upon my mind during the beginning hours of the day. Never really equated to be like those marketing jingles but I do see how God can use it as a strategy against the enemy. If our hearts and minds are full of praise there is no room for anything else.

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  3. I enjoyed this and believe wholeheartedly that moments such as these are never random...my Ipod playlists are set to shuffle...and nearly always the selected songs are relevant to something I am going through at the moment...I love it when the Holy Spirit ministers that way!

    There are too many songs to list here so I will just share the latest one...All For Love...

    "All for love the Father gave
    For only love could make a way
    All for love the heavens cried
    For love was crucified

    Oh how many times have I broken Your heart
    But still You forgive
    If only I ask
    And how many times have You heard me pray
    Draw near to me

    Everything I need is You
    My beginning, my forever
    Everything I need is You"

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  4. Hi Sharon:

    I know what you mean about those stupid jingles on commercials (I always mute commercials - I don't even like to hear all the babbling.)

    Anyway, I digress... I've always loved music and I now enjoy Christian Contemporary and Praise & Worship music. Often a song from the past will enter my thoughts...it's never one I like or even liked back in the day. (Some songs are best left in the 70's). When this happens, I start to think of a Praise & Worship song.

    Two of my favorites that always lift me right up to the throne are Kari Jobe singing The Revelation Song and Paul Baloche's Glorious.

    Blessings,
    Joan

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  5. I do believe in praying for a Hedge of Protection for our family and friends.

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  6. this is so funny, Sharon, I was just talking with hubby about this very thing yesterday; I have songs going through my head in the morning when I wake up, through the day etc. Have for awhile. I was telling hubby that it is either promises God wants me to remember or also giving him praise in my head when I'm going through things in the day. I actually think it is a very good thing indeed! Keeps us focused on him!

    betty

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  7. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the song lyrics, "falling on my knees...offering ALL of me.."
    God speaks to us in so many ways! Thanks for the awesome reminder that even through songs and our subconscious, HE is talking to us, reminding us of HIS love, even when we aren't listening!
    Love you!

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  8. Hi Sharon -

    Early this a.m. I posted a topic with "TV" mentioned and then I came here and noticed that you mentioned "TV."

    I love what you did with this, Sharon. Precious.

    The songs that come to me are:

    Blessed Assurance
    and Walking in Sunshine, which is not a gospel song but when I sing that line I think, I'm walking in SON shine! Do you remember that song? It goes, "I'm walking in sunshine and don't it feel good" (or something like that).

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  9. WOW Sharon! This is a wonderful post. I thought I was more caught up than this. Sigh...

    I am now going to start listing the songs that appear in my head and doing a scripture hunt for the truth behind them. What a great exercise for me.

    (Is there a scripture for "Here's your jingle for gold fish... baked and not friend gold fish... the wholesome snack that smiles back until you bite its head off." That's the one most easily stuck in my head. Of course, after seeing a bumper sticker on Friday, I kept hearing "Dead Men Tell No Tales..." in my head. Is there a scripture for that one?)

    Just kidding. I did love this.

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  10. What fun to hear of similar experiences that you have had! I so enjoyed reading (and humming) the songs that God brings to your lives. I was tremendously encouraged and blessed.

    It's good for all of us (me especially) to stop and ponder all the ways that God looks out for us. He is ever near, and always there. And He is our Protector and our Shield.

    And sometimes, in a very real sense, He is our Song!

    GOD BLESS!

    (Seriously, Debbie - Scripture for "Dead Men tell No Tales..." You irreverent rascal, you!! Hmmm...

    Psalms 115:17-18: "The dead cannot sing praises to the LORD, for they have gone into the silence of the grave. But we can praise the LORD both now and forever!"

    Isaiah 38:18-19: "For the dead cannot praise you; they cannot raise their voices in praise. Those who go down to the grave can no longer hope in your faithfulness. Only the living can praise you as I do today."

    TA! DA!)

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)