How Does God Speak to Your Heart?

Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as prophet (considered God's spokesman, conveying His will and truth) to the nations."

When I think about that Scripture, I am in awe. Before I was even formed in my mother's womb, God had a plan for me - a plan that included Him - so that I could share His love and truth. Amazing!

I started to think about this because of a song I heard recently. The title is "I Believe". I was amazed to hear it being sung by Barbra Streisand, who was one of my favorite singers when I was young. I had collected most of her albums, and she had never recorded it. I was happily surprised because it brought back pleasant memories for me.

What really got me thinking was this: The next day, I was watching Touched by an Angel reruns and toward the end of the story, someone sang "I Believe". What are the odds of me hearing a song two days in a row that I hadn't heard in years? I am convinced that God was trying to get my attention. There are no coincidences.

The original song was sung by Frankie Lane and it was at the top of the charts for quite some time. I was five years old and I remember sitting next to our record player and playing the song over and over and singing along with the words. Here are the lyrics. For some reason, I could not download a direct link to the song. If you want to hear it, you can listen on YouTube.

Frankie Laine Lyrics

"I Believe"

I believe for every drop of rain that falls

A flower grows

I believe that somewhere in the darkest night

A candle glows

I believe for everyone who goes astray

Someone will come to show the way

I believe, I believe

I believe above the storm, the smallest prayer

Will still be heard

I believe that someone in the great somewhere

Hears every word

Every time I hear a newborn baby cry

Or touch a leaf or see the sky

Then I know why I believe

Every time I hear a newborn baby cry

Or touch a leaf or see the sky

Then I know why I believe

(Why I believe)

Thirty five years later, I was going through a difficult divorce. God drew me close to Him during that time through people He brought into my life. After I gave my life to the Lord, I often wondered why I listened to the Christians who had reached out to me in love. Why did I believe them and turn to God in my time of trouble?

Listening to "I Believe", I realized that through this song, God had planted the seeds of faith, which sat dormant for 35 years and then were watered by the Christians God put in my path when I was ready to receive them. Amazing grace is an understatement of God's mercy and grace toward me; and by changing me, He has touched many people through the ensuing 35+ years. Following, in parenthesis, are things that I learned through the song:

I believe for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows. (God can take any trial and turn it around for our good.)

I believe that somewhere in the darkest night a candle glows. (No matter how dark our circumstances appear to us, God will always provide a way out, an encouragement, a light.)

I believe for everyone that goes astray, someone will come to show the way (I can't count the number of people that God has used over the years to help me draw closer to God and His peace.)

I believe above the storm the smallest prayer will still be heard (No matter how difficult the circumstance, God will still hear our prayers - even if our cry for help is just a faint whisper. He always hears us and is working on our behalf.)

I believe that someone in the great somewhere hears every word. (God is an ever-present help when we're in trouble. God doesn't have to be a distant God. He longs to have relationship with each of us. All we have to do is repent of our sins, realize that we need Jesus as our Savior, and ask Him into our hearts. He will do the rest to bring us a peace that goes beyond understanding. He will lead us and guide us in all that we do. I am convinced that there is nothing better than trusting God with my life and watching Him move in me and through me to bring His love and peace to others.)

Every time I hear a newborn baby cry, or touch a leaf of see the sky, then I know why I believe. (God reveals Himself in all creation.)

Another song that I listened to repeatedly when I was little is called "You'll Never Walk Alone" It is another example of God speaking to my heart, to trust Him. The seeds planted concerned: perseverance - don't give up; God is always with you; don't look at your circumstances; walk with hope in your heart (for me that is Jesus) and you'll never walk alone. I could not download a direct link to the song. If you want to hear it, you can listen on YouTube.

Gerry and the Pacemakers (several artists have sung a version)

"You'll Never Walk Alone"

When you walk through a storm

Hold your head up high

And don't be afraid of the dark

At the end of a storm

There's a golden sky

And the sweet silver song of a lark

Walk on through the wind

Walk on through the rain

Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on, walk on

With hope in your heart

And you'll never walk alone

You'll never walk alone

Walk on, walk on

With hope in your heart

And you'll never walk alone

You'll never walk alone

There is one more song that I would like to share with you. My mom died in 1980. I was devastated. A popular song at the time was called, "With you, I'm Born Again" It is a love song between a man and a woman. I didn't have a personal relationship with the Lord at the time. I didn't understand why, but for some reason, each time I heard this song, I was comforted and had peace. Reflecting on it all these years later, I realize that God used that song as His love song to me, and perhaps showing me how much I needed Him. He was the reason I was comforted and had peace.  I could not download a direct link to the song. If you want to hear it, you can listen on YouTube.

Billy Preston & Syreeta Lyrics

"With You I'm Born Again"

Come bring me your softness

Comfort me through all this madness

Woman, don't you know, with you I'm born again

Come give me your sweetness

Now there's you, there is no weakness

Lying safe within your arms, I'm born again

I was half, not whole

In step with none

Reaching through this world

In need of one

Come show me your kindness

In your arms I know I'll find this

Woman, don't you know, with you I'm born again

Lying safe with you I'm born again

In looking back on my life, what I have always marveled at was that God was there, every step of the way - even when I didn't know it, even when I resisted and/or rejected Him, He never gave up on me. I am more grateful than I can say because over the past 30+ years, I continue to embrace His love for me and rest in His peace. My prayer is that you will open your heart to receive the overly abundant love that God wants to pour over and into you.

I started this post by asking how God speaks to your heart. One way He speaks to mine is through music and lyrics. Over the years, He has used several different artists and genres of music. My most recent favorite artists are Lauren Daigle and Cee Cee Winans. Their lyrics are powerful and never fail to minister to me, encourage me, and strengthen me in my faith.

I would like to challenge all of you to reflect on your lives. How has God spoken to or ministered to you through the years? He knows everything about you. He knows what will peak your interest and will use that knowledge to speak to you and draw you close to Him. I would love to hear from you. If you would like to share, please share in the comments section below. Thank you. God bless you!