“He is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” -Ps. 34:18
I’m a lover of old hymns for the ways they communicate the truth of God in a way that causes me to think. I’m a thinker more than a feeler and words help me meditate on truth and get it into my heart.
Although I am drawn more to the older songs, every so often I hear a contemporary song that speaks straight to my soul. A few months back, my friend Cheryl shared a song written by a friend of hers. I clicked play and listened. And then I listened again. By the third time, after I wiped the tears streaming down my face, I immediately thought of four people I needed to send the song to. Since then I have probably replayed it a dozen or more times and sent it to many more people.
What gripped me most about this song was the way it encouraged me to dwell on all of the ways the Lord reveals Himself. We have such a creative God who is constantly pursuing us and wanting to show us more of Himself—if only we have eyes to see it and ears to hear it! This song also reminds me ask for the Lord to draw near to me. As James 4:8 tells us, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
I love reading stories behind hymns and songs and as I researched this particular song, I discovered the background. The songwriter, Tommy Walker, writes:
“This song was written in a moment of desperation for God to reveal Himself to me. I was feeling very low and was crying out for Jesus to come close and communicate His presence to me. As it turns out, praying honest, desperate prayers is a very scriptural thing to do.
In Psalm 27:9-11 David cries out, Don’t hide yourself from me!
Don’t be angry with me; don’t turn your servant away.
You have been my help; don’t leave me, don’t abandon me, O God, my savior.
I started thinking of the many ways God causes Himself to be known and thought, ‘Lord, I’m open to however You want to come be real and near to me. Please give me eyes to see how You might be doing this right now.’
I know many are currently in desperate situations. May we become aware of how our Lord comes to manifest Himself in personal and profound ways. May He communicate His very real presence to you even as you listen to this song.”
I pray that this week you are comforted by the Lord’s presence in your situation whatever it may be. Ponder these lyrics (below) and meditate on the ways the Lord is drawing near to you. The link to listen to the song is below as well. Please don’t miss listening! I pray it blesses you like it has blessed me.
~Courtney
Jesus, Be Near to Me
Words and music by Tommy Walker. © Copyright 2016 McKinney Music, Inc.
Jesus, be near to me
Let me know You are here
How I need You, how I need You
To reveal Yourself to me
Jesus, unveil Your pow’r
Lord, let me sense Your love
How I need You, how I need You
To reveal Yourself to me
Through the thunderous storm
Or the still of the morning
Through a wonderous sign
Or a word in the night time
Through Your unchanging truth
Through the breath of Your Spirit
In my questions and pain
Whisper words of Your love
Always the same
Be near, be near to me
Reveal, reveal Yourself to me
