I had the privilege of signing “Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy” also called “Let The Lower Lights Be Burning,” during Sunday morning service yesterday.
I want to focus on why, after practicing several other songs, I asked Pastor Dave if I could sing this instead. A few months ago, while listening to Pandora, a rendition of this song came on that really touched me (not the one above, but I like that one too!), enough that I wrote down the name and planned to have the choir to sing it. Shortly after that, our choir went through some changes. We’ve been in limbo since. We are just starting to put the choir back together, so I hadn’t had the chance to ask them to sing this song. Thursday, I went to practice and Jason and I practiced a song for an hour or two. When he left to pick up his wife, Melissa, I kept practicing. I took a break and did some filing, and then practiced some more.
Nothing I sang felt right. I went back to the pastor’s office and asked if he had a preference for which of the songs I should sing. He did not. I asked what songs he was planning for Sunday for the congregation to sing, and he showed me his list. This one stood out to me and I knew I had to sing it. We have a music machine at the church and I could’ve used it for background music, but I felt strongly that it should be sung a cappella, so I asked pastor to listen to it Sunday morning and tell me if it sounded okay before I sang it in front of the congregation. He had one minor suggestion (to make sure I come in low enough on the second verse), which I implemented. I practiced it through three more times and he told me to stop, so that I wouldn’t wear out my voice. I played piano for a while and then headed over to Sunday School.
Later on, sitting in my usual pew next to my husband, I picked up the hymnal, turned to this hymn and sang the first few words in my head to be sure I had the tune. We then broke for meet and greet and I moved to the front of the church. I picked up the hymnal again and the tune was completely gone. I couldn’t remember it and I was shaking I was so nervous. I prayed for God’s help, and He filled me to overflowing. I was told it was the best I ever sounded. Sadly, I didn’t record it, so I will never hear it myself. I am grateful to the Lord for answering that prayer. I would’ve stood up there shaking with no melody if He hadn’t come through for me. Nerve wracking as it was to stand there a few moments with nothing coming out, it would’ve been far worse if the Lord hadn’t helped. Isn’t it amazing, how He is always there when we need Him? It’s humbling to know that we can’t count on being able to do anything without His assistance, but at the same time it’s a relief to know He’s always there for us. He knows our hearts. If we want to please Him, He helps us to do so.
Are we showing up for Him? Are we letting our lights burn for him? When was the last time we told someone about Jesus’ saving grace? When was the last time we mentioned the blood He spilled at Calvary for the salvation of mankind? The Father asks us to spread the message. He entrusts the keeping of the lighthouses along the shore to us. It is our responsibility to make sure we don’t let those lights burn out, but that we keep them burning brightly.
Matthew 5:14-16
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Do you have an example of the Lord coming through for you? Share it in the comments.
(All verse references are taken from the Authorized Version of the Bible, commonly referred to as the King James Version.)
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