Here Again

Released in 2018 by the band, Elevation Worship who are the music leaders for Elevation Church in NC. 

It provides opportunities for us to do several things:

• To acknowledge the hard place we often find ourselves, in-between where we’ve been and what God has said will be… and then, to lay that struggle, our emotions, our plans, our effort at the feet of the Lord as an offering of trust.

• For us to glorify the faithfulness of God, recognizing that regardless of how we feel or whether or not we sense His presence, and no matter what happens, He has pursued us our whole lives, has not abandoned us in our place of discomfort, and WILL see us through to the very best He has for us.

• For us to establish and pursue our relationship with Jesus as the most important thing. Above our comfort, above our desired outcomes, above any godly pursuit, this is our declaration to pursue God Himself first.

Submission Facilitates Victory

Can’t go back to the beginning, Can’t control what tomorrow will bring, Let your love rise above every fear, In my weakness your glory appears

Life is full of difficult spots

• Loss of idyllic past

• Inability to control envisioned future

• Lamenting failures or sin

• Dealing with trauma from the sin of others

These places in between “what was” and “what will be” are spiritual battlefields.

• Enemy will sow everything from bitterness, resentment, fear, discontentment, pride… all things that will rob us of the abundant life Jesus bought for us.

James 4:7 (ESV) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

• Submission means both “yielding control of” AND “presenting or offering”

• Acknowledge the hard place we often find ourselves, in-between where we’ve been and what God has said will be… and then, lay that struggle; our emotions, our plans, our effort at the feet of the Lord as an offering of trust.

• Submit yourself to God and the enemy will retreat.

When we sing these words, offer to the Lord everything weighing you down. Every pain, scar, fear, hope, and plan.

• Surrender to God’s plans for your future and redemption of your past.

• Commit to stop looking in the rear view mirror and start looking forward.

• Thank the Lord for breakthroughs that are coming.

Never Alone in the Process

As I walk now through the valley, Not for a minute was I forsaken, Dry bones awaken, The Lord is in this place

Regardless of how we feel, whether we sense His presence or not, and no matter what happens, He has not abandoned us and WILL see us through to His very best for us.

2 Sam 14:14 (NLT) All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.

God has always been, and always will be working to draw us closer to Himself.

• Doesn’t depend on our awareness

• Extends beyond our acknowledgement

• Is a result of His character and the value He’s placed on us: the life of His only son

Like David, encourage yourself in the Lord when you feel alone.

• Acknowledge and give thanks for the ways He’s been faithful in the past.

• Evaluate the following and respond to the Lord accordingly:

• Facts: You don’t FEEL Him, SEE Him working, or UNDERSTAND His plan. Maybe you’re even struggling to believe He cares or is even there.

• Lies: He’s abandoned you. You’re too broken. He was never really there at all.

• Truth:  God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He demonstrated His love for you in that while you were still embracing sin, He died to justify you in the presence of God the Father and for the CHANCE that you might choose to trust Him for that. There is nothing outside of you or inside of you that can separate you from His love.

When we sing these words, praise God for His character of faithfulness and love.

• Reject the lies the enemy has told you,

• Embrace the truth of what God says,

• Regardless of the facts of your circumstance.

King First, Kingdom Second

All I want is all you are, Come Holy Spirit, I’m not enough unless you come, Will you meet me here again

The Kingdom of God is built around and for the glory of God. He is central to all aspects of it.

• Declaration that we want Him over anything else

• Invitation for Him to take His rightful place as the King of our lives

Daniel 3:17-18 (NLT) “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

It’s easy to develop a relationship with Jesus where we pursue the things He’s promised as a priority over pursuing Him.

Establish (or reestablish) and pursue our relationship with Jesus as the most important thing. Above our comfort, above desired outcomes, above any godly pursuit; this is our declaration to pursue God Himself first.

When we sing these words make them a personal expression from you to Jesus.

• Invite Him to meet you right where you're at

• Ask Him to change your heart

• Ask Him to heal your unbelief