Let the Light Shine Down

I’m trying to be consistent with posting something every Monday this year.  Last week, however, I was in Las Vegas for a gathering of evangelists and ministers from all over the Southwest (an incredibly enriching and encouraging time!) and didn’t have any access to Internet on Monday morning.  I did have a great time that morning of spending several hours in prayer and in the word.  Writing in my prayer journal, reading spiritual books, listening to music, sitting in a chair right next to a hotel window looking down on the city –it was such a great spiritual time that I feel like is still buoying me a week later.

One of the things I was pouring out to God was asking him to guide me through this season of life.  I don’t know what a midlife crisis is, but I feel like I’ve been experiencing these emotions lately that I don’t know where come from at times.  I have conflicting feelings: nostalgia for my youth but also excitement for the future, I miss having little kids but I’m so enjoying them in their teen years, I sense the rewards of training others yet can feel a loss of personal vitality and relevance.  Sometimes I feel like I’m a mixture of joy and sadness, confidence in God and weakness in the flesh.  And I can’t get enough of this kind-of sad/happy music –listening to a lot of Bon Iver, Alexi Murdoch, Jose Gonzalez, Ben Howard.

Anyway I thought I would share a song today that so captures this feeling I’m talking about.  This song was written by my friend and music publishing partner Geoff Fawcett.  I love the chord changes and the sad/happy feel of it.  I love how it captures the emotion of realizing how fallen I am, how much I need God, and how desperate I am for his spirit, his guidance, his mercy and grace.  The lyrics describe the seasons of life, the ups and downs, and the goodness of God through it all.  (This is one of the songs in the new SOK songbook if you haven’t had a chance to pick one up.)

OK I’m going to go laugh/cry now.

Let the Light Shine Down

LET THE LIGHT SHINE DOWN

Let the light shine down on me
Lift my eyes that I may see
Let the light shine down
On this wayward ground
Let the light shine down on me

When the path I walk is dark
When the clouds are all I see
Let the light shine down
On this wayward ground
Let the light shine down on me

When my my faith is weak and small
When my fears are all I see
Let the light shine down
On this wayward ground
Let the light shine down on me

When my sword is lifted high
When I bask in victory
Let the light shine down
On this wayward ground
Let the light shine down on me

When I live my final day
When my ship sails cross the sea
Let the light shine down
On this wayward ground
Let the light shine down on me

Let the light shine down on me

 

Intro
E     B  /  C#m   /   E    B /  C#m

Verse
E     B   /  C#m   /  E    B /  Amaj7
C#m   B  /  A     /   E
E     B   /    E

 

Let The Light Shine Down – sheet music

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