Worship Life

Heart - Soul - Mind

  • Home
  • Podcasts
  • Events
    • WorshipLife 2020
    • TRIBE
    • Kempke
  • About Us
You are here: Home / Devotion / When You Can’t Find the Words – By Mike Harland

When You Can’t Find the Words – By Mike Harland

January 22, 2018 Leave a Comment

Whenever we attempt to describe God, we come face to face with the reality that we don’t have a vocabulary adequate enough for the task. We can’t describe God – He is indescribable. Sometimes a place or a picture can help us.

Recently, I was back on the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to lead a rehearsal of a combined choir from 12 or so churches. We were preparing for “Crescent City Praise,” to be held on March 8. It’s a wonderful event on the campus where churches come from all over to declare the greatness of God in that city. This year, the celebration includes a unique time of thanksgiving for the centennial anniversary of ministry at NOBTS.

When I first walked in, I took this picture:

As I walked further into the chapel, an attribute of God came into focus in my soul – His faithfulness. I immediately started singing one of the songs we were going to rehearse that day –

Our faithful God, true to the end

He was faithful before, He’ll be faithful again

Remember His goodness, trust in His plan

Our faithful God, Our faithful God*

Something about walking into that room reminded me of how God saw us through those years of our lives. Teresa and I went to seminary with fear and trembling, knowing only one thing – that God was leading us to go.  God was faithful. He kept every promise and made every provision.

In Psalms, we see the same pattern over and over – God calls – His servant goes – God is faithful – and the song comes forth.

Whenever the song of praise seems distant and hard to sing – look back through the scrapbook of your life.

Soon, you’ll find a picture or a place where the song still lives. And you will sing again.

 

* Our Faithful God (words & music by Chris and Diane Machen, Mike Harland)


Mike Harland is the Director of Lifeway Worship. When he’s not directing 30+ employees, you’ll find him leading worship at various churches around the country, writing/arranging worship songs and/or, writing his next book. In his spare time, he loves playing basketball and spending time with his family. Mike can be found on Twitter @MikeHarlandLW and on facebook.com/Mike.Harland.37.

Tweet
PinIt

Filed Under: Devotion, Mike Harland, Words Tagged With: Chris and Diane Machen, Crescent City Praise, Faithfulness, God's Faithfulness, Mike Harland, Mondays with Mike, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Our Faithful God, Psalms

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories

  • A View From the Pew
  • Children's Choir
  • Choir Members
  • Chord Chart
  • Church Life
  • Church Members
  • Church Supplies
  • Contest
  • Devotion
  • Diversion
  • Geek Stuff
  • Giveaways
  • Guest Writer
  • Humor/Funniness
  • Instruction
  • Lead Sheet
  • Lead Sheet PLUS
  • LifeWay Worship Department
  • LifeWay Worship Project
  • LifeWay Worship Project in the News
  • Mike Harland
  • Missions
  • Music Business
  • Music Ministers/Worship Pastors
  • New Releases
  • Orchestra Leaders
  • Pastors
  • Podcasts
  • Praise Bands
  • Producer Profiles
  • Producers/Publishers
  • SBC
  • Site Feature
  • Song Feature
  • SongMap
  • Sound Check
  • Technology
  • Training
  • Uncategorized
  • video
  • Words
  • Worship Leaders
  • Worship Life Anthems
  • Worship Talk on the Web
  • WorshipLife Event
  • WorshipLife LIVE
  • Writers/Arrangers
  • Youth/Student Choirs

Socialize With Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Looking for Choral Music?
Looking for Congregational Music?
Copyright © 2021 · Lifeway Christian Resources · All Rights Reserved