I want to share an intimate time of worship, healing, and hope at our church a couple weeks ago. This is one of the things I love about corporate gatherings. You’re in this space together with your brothers and sisters and the anticipation is electric. The room is alive with His love and the atmosphere is thick with His tangible presence. These times are precious to me. This was one such time.
There’s a song we’ve been singing called, “Take Courage” by Kristene DiMarco. The song has really resonated with us, encouraging us that God is there when the answers seem nowhere in sight. The chorus of the song says it all:
Take courage, my heart
Stay steadfast, my soul
He’s in the waiting
He’s in the waiting
Hold on to your hope
As your triumph unfolds
He’s never-failing
He’s never-failing
What we’re finding out is that God is in the waiting. He’s not just in the victory, He’s in the journey as our triumph unfolds.
Here’s where the recording starts. We were in the middle of worship and had just finished singing about God’s amazing grace. Then there seemed to be a shift in the atmosphere. There was a pause… a waiting. God was at work. People were visibly touched. A word of encouragement is given as we go into the song (Take Courage). Then, somewhere in the middle, Christi was singing this line:
Miracles happen when we fix our eyes on Jesus Christ
It’s at this place where God began ministering as we responded and went into body ministry. There was discouragement, hopelessness, and shame broken off of people. There was healing…emotionally, spiritually, and physically. There was also a prophetic word to encourage us to rise up. Our heavenly Papa is SO good!
Beloved, have you grown weary of it all? Has the enemy been allowed to dis-appoint you? Dis-courage you? Have you lost vision? Slow down…take time…just breathe in…receive His grace…take up your courage again. God is in the waiting. He has appointed you to bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain (John 15:16). He will finish what He started in you. He’s here right now, let Him embrace you every step of the way. He who holds the stars and calls each by name will surely keep His promise to you. He has never left you and never will. Rest in His affections for you and watch your triumph unfold!
I hope this worship moment will encourage and bless you. It’s not a professional recording. It was taken directly off of our sound board, edited only for length. But the message is clear…He’s never failing!
In My Father's House 
Ahhhh ,so encouraging to hear. God is good, indeed! I often go to church and feel as if the weight of the week has been lifted off of me.
That’s the way it should be. 😊 It’s sad when people’s church experience is anything but that. Thanks for listening! Blessings.
Thank you, Mel.
Thanks for an encouraging article. I heard the whole soundclip and was blessed again! This is the truth to grow in the Kingdom = by His grace and goodness. There is no other way. The religious, judgemental law-based route which a lot of us have experienced, only keeps us away from our loving Father. No, let us enjoy the intimate relationship with Him and see that this is the only way 🙂
Thanks, Stian. You’re right. We seemed to have done a lot of harm traditionally, keeping people away from experiencing the Father’s love with religious rules. We’ve gotten the whole thing backwards ( we obey because we are loved and love). It’s tragic when we finally realize how simple it is, and how He loves us and wants us to enjoy our life with Him. Thanks for listening. Blessings.
It saddens me to know that many Christians reject this time of intimacy with the Father.
It’s got to be really sad for God since it’s the whole reason He saved us! Especially when we hide from God with the Bible, as Jesus told the Pharisees, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” (John 5:39-40).
This has been my song of the season – still LOVING it (and needing it) ❤️ And I so agree with you about those precious times of corporate worship where we experience His depths together – that is what my heart has been craving for so long. I’ve seen so much more openness, hunger, and sensitivity to His Spirit (yay!) but there is still SO much more. Haven’t listened to the clip yet, but I will! Blessings 😊
Thanks Cindy. We’re seeing more openness, hunger, and sensitivity to the Spirit, too. It seems like something changed with the new year. Pretty awesome!
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