Heart Lifter

"Awake, north wind,
and come, south wind!
Blow on my garden,
that its fragrance may spread abroad.
Let my lover come into His garden
and taste its choice fruits." Song of Songs 4:16

I love to worship Jesus with passion.

There are times my heart gets so heavy that it feels as if it is literally dragging the ground. I have discovered a few remedies,heart lifters. They have come in various forms, such as the smile of a child, a timely message from a dear friend, or a new worship song.

Misty Edward's new cd, Fling Wide, has been a heart lifter for me.

It is full of beautiful worship songs. Songs that draw me right to the heart of God.

It has brought healing and refreshing to my soul.

Song number 5 is hard for me to sing. I don't like all of the words.

Worship is praying to music, is it not?

The words of song number 5 pray like this:

"Awake, awake, O north wind
Awake, awake, O south wind
Blow over me
Come, O wind of testing
Come, winds of refreshing
Blow over me
Let the winds blow ..."

This song is directly quoted from Song of Songs. The Bride petitions her Bridegroom to let the north winds blow on her garden. The south winds too. The north winds are symbolic of the hard times ... the harsh, momentary seasons, the Job lessons of life.

The south winds bring refreshing. They are the breathers in life,respites between tides.

I have experienced many north winds in my life. I have learned so much from them. I have snuggled closer to the heart of God during those frigid, seemingly heartless, hurtful seasons, and found such a warmth, I never would have discovered otherwise, so near His heart. It was a place warmth and wealth of love for me. A refuge. A crevice in the rock where He covered me with His hand. But those seasons are difficult and I don't enjoy them at all.

So I am hesitant to invite them ... even if it means that I will grow in my affection for my Beloved Jesus. Even if it means that others will see Him more clearly as they witness my suffering while walking in His grace.

So I mumble through that line of the song while singing the next line with courage and boldness ...

"Awake, awake, O south winds ..."

It does not take courage to ask for refreshing winds.

It is like asking for a trip to the Bahamas.

A north wind is blowing outside today.

I have stayed in ... I hear it ... it invites me to open the door and come out and play.

It wails ...

It reminds ...

It chills me to the bone ...

I stay inside with a hot cup of coffee.

Just the thought of it discourages my desire to petition for it.

Winter seasons pass ... eventually spring wins the game of tug of war with winter and it comes ...

Soon everything is blooming and I hardly remember the bite of winter winds

as I once again bask in gentle breezes ...

I find that I appreciate spring so much more after a hard winter.

I would love to share one of Misty's cds with you. Just leave a comment and I will enter your name in a drawing.

Blessings,
Cheri