If I had to guess, I’d say Christian worship songs comprise about 97% of the music I listen to every day. I’ve listened to praise music for so long that, when I try to listen to current popular songs or some of the music I grew up with, I’m good for only one or two songs. I realize my age may be filtering my preferences, but words have a powerful effect on our minds and, therefore, our lives. I’m in pursuit of amazing and I know just where to find it.
For me, praise music rewrites my negative thinking, encourages my heart, reminds me who God is and of His extravagant love for me. Praise music solidifies God’s word in my heart and mind.
Words put to music have a special ability to shape us. Listening to the same message over and over can become engrained into our mindsets, into who we are. Our normal response to continued exposure is to take on the value system and thought process that aligns with the message. Engraved deeper and deeper into our hearts, that value system becomes engrained into our daily habits and practices.
If you can become what you eat, you can surely live out what you listen to. That’s why I believe that listening to the message of who God is put to music has redeemed my past and rewritten my future.
When I think about what Christ has done for me and try to grasp the full weight of His sacrifice and His continual pursuit of my heart, I am left with no sufficient words of appreciation. What He has done for me makes no sense to the human mind or heart. I choose to show my gratitude by worshiping Him as often as I can.
In one such worship moment, I was listening to How Amazing by Jesus Culture. This beautiful message expresses my heart for all God has done. For me, it captures the weight and depth of Christ’s sacrifice, heaven’s value system, and His heart for His creation.
“Where I saw death, there You saw life … And You ran to my rescue … Can’t wrap my head around the cross … How far You would go for me.”
We see death, but God sees life. We feel lost, but God calls us found in Him. He poured out every bit of His life’s blood for us so that we could respond to His great love. His mercy won a battle at the Cross that we were incapable of winning alone. His love is so encompassing that it redeems our past and rewrites our future. Sweet sister, all that your heart is searching for in this world is in Christ alone.
His love finds us; His grace is patient with us; His mercy sustains us. What should our response be to that kind of love? Worship. Obedience. And our profession, “Oh, how amazing, how amazing … Oh, how amazing, how amazing … this love.”
Spend a few moments listening to this song. I’ll provide the lyrics, so you can profess with your mouth the deep gratitude of your heart for an amazing love like no other you will ever find. I think you’ll agree that His love is indeed an amazing love that can never be found or duplicated in any other place except His sacrifice and constant pursuit for us…for the simple reason of showing us how much He loves us.
Find a quiet place and absorb this truth about what Christ has done for you. Ponder His extravagant sacrifice and think about why He loves you so much. It’s all about His love, not ours. We couldn’t possibly return the level of affection that He has for us so let’s simply enjoy His presence and lean into what His love offers us.
How Amazing
by Jesus Culture
Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRR1kMpRY4c
Where I saw death, there You saw life
And You ran to my rescue
Can’t wrap my head around the cross
How far You would go for me
The sacrifice, it cut so deep
Your wounds are my healing
And mercy’s cry, so bittersweet
The sound brings me to my knees
Oh, how amazing, Your love came pouring out
Oh, how amazing, the grace that I have found
I’m lost in wonder, here I am, undone
Oh, how amazing, how amazing … this love
Where I felt lost, You called me found
Embraced in the Savior
I’m not the same, I’ll never be
Your love changed my destiny
Oh, how amazing, Your love came pouring out
Oh, how amazing, the grace that I have found
I’m lost in wonder, here I am, undone
Oh, how amazing, how amazing …
Oh, the heights, the depths, of Your great love
At the cross, it was finished, Your mercy won
Your scars reflect my healing, I stand redeemed
Thank You, Jesus
The weight of sin is lifted, I’m running free
Oh, how amazing, Your love came pouring out
Oh, how amazing, the grace that I have found
I’m lost in wonder, here I am, undone
Oh, how amazing, how amazing …
Oh, how amazing, Your love came pouring out
You poured it out oh God
Oh, how amazing, the grace that called that calls my name
I’m lost in wonder, here I am, undone
Oh, how amazing, how amazing …
Oh, how amazing, Your love came pouring out
Oh you poured it out for me, Jesus
Oh, You poured Your love out for me, Jesus
Oh, the sacrifice for me, Jesus
Oh, I’m undone, so overwhelmed, Jesus
At the gift You gave, the life You gave for me, Jesus
It’s that love, that changed my destiny
It’s that love that changed my destiny
Oh, it’s a love that found me
It’s a love that found me
It’s a love that called my name, that draws me out
Oh, You’re the love that found me
Jesus, oh, You changed
You changed the course of my life
You changed the course of my life
Stopped me dead in my tracks and said
“Come, follow me, ” “Come, follow me”
You changed my life, such amazing love
There’s no regret at surrendering all to You, Jesus
Oh, there’s no regret in giving You my all
Holding nothing back, from you Jesus
A life completely poured out
Completely poured out
Completely poured out
Completely poured out
Completely poured out
Let me pour out my life, Jesus
Let me pour out my life to You, Jesus
Cause You gave it all
You gave it all for me, yes
Oh, the heights, the depths, of Your great love
At the cross, it was finished, Your mercy won
Your scars reflect my healing, I stand redeemed
The weight of sin it is lifted, I’m running free
Oh, how amazing, Your love came pouring out
Oh, how amazing, the grace that I have found
I’m lost in wonder, here I am, undone
Oh, how amazing, how amazing…
Oh, how amazing, Your love came pouring out
Thank you Jesus
Oh, how amazing, the grace that I have found
Forever
I’m lost in wonder, here I am, undone
Oh, how amazing, how amazing…
Oh, how amazing, how amazing,
This love
He gives beauty for ashes. He restores what was lost. He rewrites our future, and He calls us into who He created us to be. He’s worthy of our praise and trustworthy with our pain.
Make listening to praise and worship music part of your day. It will equip you to override the lies of this world by reminding you of who He is. And it will keep you in mind of who you are to Him by reminding you about His great love and sacrifice. His desire is to pull you close and reveal Himself to you, so you can know Him and enjoy Him all the days of your life.
NOW LIVE LOVED and THRIVE!
Self-Reflection
These questions are in no way a substitute for healthcare professionals or any level of professional counseling. I’m an advocate for taking care of oneself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. These questions reflect my heart, NOT my profession.
This questionnaire is an opportunity to journal your thoughts and feelings. It can serve as a launching pad on which to evaluate your heart condition as you understand it. My hope is that you will take the truths you discover about yourself and hold them up to the Light to evaluate them against who God says you are.
- List three things you are grateful to God for.
- List three things God has done to show His great love for you.
- Do you take the time to tell God thank you?
- In what ways do you let God know how appreciative you are for who He is and all He’s done?
- How has God transformed your life?
- Have you talked to God about anything in your past that still troubles you? If not, take the time to lay it at His feet. He is trustworthy not to condemn you nor will He be mad at you. He loves you.
Talk to God about your answers. Give Him praise, ask Him questions and then listen for His gentle response.
Take Action
Use God’s word to take control over the traumas in your life. Whenever you feel terrorized by your thoughts take them captive by replacing them with the truth of God’s promises in His word.
Here is a scripture for you to print, cut and carry with you and/or post in places where you will see it often. Ground yourself in God’s truths not Satan’s attacks. Encourage your heart and mind every time you are reminded of His great love for YOU!
Here is what God’s Word says about His unfailing, relentless, unending love for you:
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 NIV
Translation: God poured out His great love for us on the cross. His Son, Jesus Christ took our place and our punishment, offering up His blood to cover us. His sinless death satisfied the just payment that was due for sin—our sin. His scars are from the beating, torture, and death by crucifixion on the cross, and they bear witness that we have been redeemed. Because of His sacrifice, we now have the opportunity to make the personal decision to accept/acknowledge Christ’s blood in place of our own.
