It was something
I wasn’t expecting…
To witness worship that morning.
A routine
drive into work, eyes fixed on the road, mind running through the day’s list,
fingers tapping on steering wheel to the beat of happy song. The crisp fall air was glowing with the
season’s first frost and seemed to sparkle to a song of its own.
It’s easy to
drowsily drive through the morning and not take notice of surroundings, but
something wonderful caught my eye and so clearly, it spoke to my heart.
It was
trees… the leaves… the color…
a row of majestic maples standing all ablaze in glorious red!
Each
branch reaching high toward heaven.
Those
leaves on fire for God ~ burning with praise for their Maker!
The scene
brought to mind a verse in the book of Luke where Jesus said something like, if
His disciples kept silent, the stones would cry out with praise. It seemed on this particular morning, it was
the trees crying out with praise that only His ears could hear.
And oh, in
that moment of quietly captured beauty, a spark ignited in my heart. My soul
filled with gratitude, and awestruck, my spirit bowed down low to join in this worship
of the One who made it all.
With the fiery
vision burning in my mind I began to reflect on how small at times was the
flame burning inside my heart for Him, and in repentance, this prayer of poetry
I lifted to my LORD;
Refine me in Thy holy fire
And melt away all my selfish desires
Transforming this cold heart of mine
To burn as one that's wholly Thine
I give my life to You my LORD
And drench it in Thy Holy Word
Until my soul is burning bright
And Jesus is the only Light
That shines from every part of me
No more darkness, finally free
To discover all You've made me for
On wings as eagles, made to soar
High above the grip of sin
As Thy Holy Spirit lives within
This heart, that You're refining still
Making pure… To do Thy will
With
my spirit now humbled, silent and still before Him, a new prayer began to
rise. . .
Oh LORD, stir my soul into flames of praise!
Whatever
it takes! May this fire never be reduced, but always burn passion for You!
Refine my faith and make it pure, for Your glory, in the holy fire, that never fades!
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” - Luke 19:40
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills will
burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
- Isaiah 55:12
