But the
Advocate, the
Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach
you all things and
will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I
leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not
give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not
be afraid. John 14:
26-27
Since
the age of thirteen, I have played piano and later organ for my church. As a young adult, I began directing a choir
of about 25 people and was daunted by the task of assuring that the songs selected
would support the pastor’s message each week.
Brother
J. A. Sharp was our pastor at the time and I asked that he tell me what songs
he would like to sing each week. He
quickly advised that we didn’t have to worry over it, that God has the plans
and we just follow them; that I should read the scriptures of the week, pray,
and not worry - God would help me select the songs. Brother Sharp would then provide three months
of planned messages and God and I would begin the task to select the music for
each week.
Using
his directions, on the first Sunday, the song we sang just before the message had
some of the same words that Brother Sharp used in his sermon that day. It is hard to express in words how strongly I
felt the overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit at that moment. I experienced
a physical realization that prayers were answered, and reassurance that He was
with me in the work I was attempting to do, as simple as it was.
This
occurred over and over as the years went by, scripture, prayer, then song selection,
followed by a joyful anticipation each week to ‘see what God had done’ for our
services. I realized with confirmation that God is in
Control if we will give it all to him.
Prayer: Father, we give thanks for the indwelling
presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Amen.
