For the last week or so I have been working on remodeling our 5th wheel camping trailer. It needs a face lift and so Dave and I began changing its image. He works outside while I work inside.
The walls needed to be washed, windows taped off, doing the cut work took the most time. Painting around windows, close to the ceiling and then the floor. Keeping the paint on the walls and no place else, it was slow going but at day’s end yesterday we found that we are almost finished.
We still need to find a fabric for the new curtains and the furniture needs to be placed but we are all but done.
The first few days I found some old CD’s and kept myself company with songs by Trace Atkins, Tracy Byrd, Mark Wills, Michael Peterson and James Bonamy. Most of the time I would restart the CD and go through it at least one more time. The songs kept my mind occupied as I sang along.
After a few days I noticed that I was waking up in the night with the melody of those songs running through my mind. As we all know the lyrics in most country songs is not that uplifting and it seemed that those were the words I was hearing in my sleep. Not good.
Time to switch music. Still wanting to listen to some of my favorite country artists but now I was reaching for their Gospel albums. Alan Jackson, Randy Travis and the Forester Sisters were playing loud and I was singing along.
Our youngest daughter called yesterday while I was painting close to the ceiling so I put her on speaker phone. She could hear the music but not the words and then Alan Jackson started singing “How Great Thou Art” and she said “oh, I recognize that one”. Those words are the ones I want stuck in my mind – words that tell of the goodness of God and His great faithfulness.
Everyone probably has a favorite song. One that reminds them of a special time and a special person. You’re probably thinking of yours right now. I have a few but the ones that mean the most and bring tears to my eyes are the ones whose lyrics came to mind when I was going through particularly tough times and with the words came the peace of God.
“To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.” Isaiah 61:3 NLT
“Lord, we lift you up with our songs of praise. We sing and play songs about your power!” Psalm 21:13 ERV
God has promised to give us festive praise instead of despair. He fills our heart with song when we trust Him and allow Him to guide us through life. Even painting ceilings can be a time of praise.
Let God fill your heart with the words of a song.