Soul, why are you so sad?
Why do you spend so much time dwelling in darkness when you know the Father of Lights?
Lift up your head and look to the One who set you free.
Lift up your eyes and see the glory of the Father who sent you here.
Look all around you and see the fields that are ready for harvest.
I have been surrounded by darkness, but never overcome by it.
I have been drowning in self-loathing, but never succumbed to it.
I have looked the enemy in the face and told him to leave in the name of Jesus.
I have looked into my heart and seen the desolation and destruction that I am capable of, but You are sovereign over even my heart, O Lord.
Thank You for who You are.
You are the God who created the pine trees of Laurel, Mississippi.
In Your image You created the 11 orphan boys in rural India who now hold a piece of my heart after a month of living in their beautiful family.
You formed the Himalayan Mountains with Your mighty hands, and You are holding Guman and the other children fighting for life in the slums of Kathmandu, Nepal.
You are the God who rescued the Burmese refugees who now live in a little bamboo village in northern Thailand.
You are pursuing the hearts of the four 9th grade geography students who you charged me to share the gospel with over the course of a month.
You are the God who is bringing life and restoration to the Kingdom of Cambodia as we speak, and You look upon Your children here and smile as they continue to bring the kingdom with every breath.
You are the God who hears the prayers of Your children in English, Spanish, Punjabi, Telugu, Nepali, Thai, Burmese, and Khmer.
Thank You for who You are.
You are the God who created me just as I am.
You did not make a mistake when You formed my heart and my mind.
You are not surprised by my sins and my failures.
You are the God who saw me in my brokenness 5 years ago and picked me up.
You are the God who pursues my heart daily and You are jealous for my affections.
You are patient and merciful even when I am restless and sinful.
You are slow to anger and quick to love.
You see me in my turmoil, and You have held my hand in the midst of the storm.
Thank You for who You are.
You have never regretted saving me.
You have never stopped loving me.
You have never given up on me.
You have never forgotten me.
Thank You for who You are.
I praise You for who You are.
I praise You, Father, for Your matchless grace and Your infinite mercy.
I praise You, Holy Spirit, for Your conviction and pursuit of our hearts.
I praise You, Jesus, for Your display of love on the cross.
Thank You for who You are.
Jesus,
You came to the earth and lived a perfect life.
You brought life, wholeness, healing, and hope.
You died a death You did not deserve to offer us salvation that we could not earn.
Thank You for who You are.
You are the God of Creation but You are also the God of salvation to a broken and undeserving people.
You sent Your Holy Spirit to comfort us and empower us for the sake of the gospel.
You gave me purpose and hope for the future when all I could see was darkness.
Thank You for who You are.
I will follow You for all of my days because You are worthy to be praised.
I will follow You into the streets of Siem Reap, Cambodia to reap the fields that are white unto harvest.
I will pursue Your heart and Your will for my life because You have promised to never let me down.
Thank You, Lord, for who You are.
“When lies say You’re absent and I feel abandoned
You stir in the stillness and all I know is this:
You love me, You always have.
You choose me just as I am.
You love me, You always have.”
Always Have – Vertical Worship
