Some songs seem so overplayed in certain seasons of life and "Shout To The Lord" is one of those songs. When I was a new Christian, this popular song was released and it was sung what seems like every Sunday, morning and evening services, for about two years straight. However, it is one of those songs whose truth remains so real.
It is a simple, yet powerful song, and if you're anything like me, you started singing it when you saw the title of the article. Of all of the modern worship songs, this is one of the few that has found itself in my heart as an 'old hymn of the church.' Considering it has been being sung in the church and by The Church for almost as long as I've been a Christian.
It recently came to my mind when I was thinking about past vacations, and my favorite places to see. The line, "Mountains will bow and the seas will roar, at the sound of Your name," brought back the memories of the places I love so much and why I love them.
The first place is the Rocky Mountains. Every time driving west from Calgary, Alberta heading to Banff, the mountains seem to rise up out of nowhere, their majestic presence dominating everything around them. The wild of the mountains, rugged and so imposing. It is like God's majesty displayed right there for me to see. I love the mountains. I don't ski or snowboard, I don't climb or boulder, I just love to marvel at the greatness that God created.
The second place is Trinidad, West Indies. The ocean crashing against the rocks, imposing its will on the shoreline. Once again, the power of God displayed. God doesn't necessarily impose His will on you, but He will change you and shape you as the ocean shapes the shoreline, if you allow Him. On our last vacation to Trinidad, we had the pleasure to spend some time in Tobago. Each morning I would make my coffee and walk out to cliffs and just watch the ocean crash into the cliffs and feel the spray. It was as though with each crashing wave that God himself was touching my life.
"I Sing for joy at the work of Your hands / Forever I love you, Forever I stand / Nothing compares to the promise I have in you."
I don't think there is anything in God's creation quite like mountains and oceans. I do become truly awestruck and amazed when I see them and then to think that not even mountains or oceans compare with God's promises... excuse me while I go and worship. Feel free to join me.
Mark is a follower of Christ, husband to one wife and father to three beautiful girls. He writes, runs and sometimes writes about running. Mark blogs at themarkcryan.com and tweets as @theMarkCRyan.
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