The Art of Losing Myself....From the Inside Out

This powerful Hillsong worship piece has been playing over and over in my head for weeks now. And I know why. If you watch and listen to the lovely video above, carefully read the lyrics as it plays. There are some phrases that really are applying to me in the season of my life. Here are the lyrics. And I cannot help but raise my arms to my merciful God every time I listen!!

FROM THE INSIDE OUT

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
my heart and my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Chorus 2x
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out Lord, my soul cries out

This tune is about the art of losing oneself. And boy has the Lord been confronting me on this issue lately. Sometimes I think I have grown and matured so much only to find that I really need more of his tender work in my heart. The Lord shows us the hidden flaws because He wants to purify and soften our hearts. We all hear this truth and know it. However the reality of it is often not genuine until we are living it. One of the phrases of the song says, "Your will above all else, my purpose remains. The art of losing myself in bringing You praise."

Wow, think of that. "The art of losing myself!" It is about control. Is about relinquishing what "I think" and allowing myself to listen to what the Almighty says, embracing His wisdom and instruction, and allowing Him to change me from the inside out.

Last night before bed I was reading a devotion about character. The writer used a photo of an iceberg to illustrate how others usually only see the tip of the iceberg.
However, hidden beneath the depths of the sea is the largest part and often most damaging.

This photo pretty much illustrates what others around us may see or it may symbolize what we want others to see. The tip of the iceberg in the gleaming light...towering tall in its' majesty and in its' white perfection.This really only represents about 10% of one's skill and glory. However, most of the iceberg is hidden below the water line.
The 90% of the hidden iceberg represents our character. It is what dwells below the surface that can sink a ship. So many times we want to portray that we are strong and able. And in our attempt to do so, we neglect our own character...just like the captain of the Titanic neglected the 6 warnings of an impending iceberg. The result was devastation.

God does not neglect the hidden icebergs in our life. He wants to melt them away with His merciful correction so that we do not sink ourselves in our own stubbornness and pride. God is really using this season to confront my own hidden iceberg. That is the 90% that most others do not see.

There is much I cannot do at this time. I have no control over it. I cannot do much cleaning and cooking. I am not able to run my household like I am used to doing. And boy, that lack of control is bringing out some less than lovely stuff in me. In addition, I am seeing that sometimes I do run a ship that is bit too tight at times. God wants there to be order in my home. But He is more concerned about order in my heart.

Now, this is much better. This is beauty under the sea...blossoms in the hidden depths where most do not see. Lord, from the inside out. My soul cries out. Consume me from within so that Your glory may shine without. Melt the icebergs in the sea of my heart and cause your splendor to bloom there.


As the first verse of the worship song says:

A THOUSAND TIMES I'VE FAILED
STILL YOUR MERCY REMAINS
AND SHOULD I STUMBLE AGAIN
STILL I'M CAUGHT IN YOUR GRACE"

What a comfort...a strong assurance to know we are still caught in His grace,
forever in His warm embrace.
All the ice will melt away
should we choose to restfully stay,
to remain and dwell where mercy flows free,
And all that is not of love will melt in me.
Ange Cogburn

Thanks friends for always embracing the good and the bad in me. I appreciate you all.

Love,
Ange