Friday 11 October 2019

Worthy To Be Praised


There are many times in life when praising God is an absolute joy and it feels like the easiest thing in the world to lift our hands high and sing His name! When life is difficult, stressful or upsetting however, praise may not come quite so naturally. Sometimes offering praises to God can feel like a sacrifice, perhaps when we’ve just received some devastating news or are feeling overwhelmed by disappointment or confusion.

Having journeyed through various different highs and lows throughout 2019, I was reflecting one day on the fact that no matter what we’re going through in life, Jesus is always worthy of our praise. Our circumstances don’t alter who He is and what He’s done for us on the Cross. Whatever our current situation may be, it doesn’t change the fact that our Heavenly Father loves us, died for us and has promised that He is always with us, even to the end of the age.

Our gentle Saviour understands our struggles and knows what it costs us to sing through the tears during those heartbreaking times in life. I’ve personally found that it’s often in these dark moments that offering up worship to Jesus brings out a whole new level of gratitude from my heart as the Holy Spirit comforts my soul and meets me exactly where I am.

Regardless of how I’m feeling from day to day though, the truth of my redemption never changes. I know I have eternal life awaiting me in Heaven thanks to the blood of Jesus Christ. Not only that, I also have His love and wisdom guiding me through my time here on Earth. Our merciful Saviour truly is worthy to be praised.

Tuesday 1 October 2019

Freedom For All

In October 2019 a friend of mine called Cameron got in touch to ask if he could commission me to write and perform a poem for a Christmas Concert in London. The concert would be raising money for charity to support the work of International Justice Missions which rescues children who have been sold into slavery in Ghana.

Cameron asked me if I might be able to write a poem based around the theme of “Freedom” and sent me some links to watch so that I could know more about the cause I would be writing for. Watching the videos and hearing the testimonies of some of the children who have already been rescued by IJM was difficult viewing to say the least. My heart absolutely broke at the appalling crimes committed against these children and I soon found myself praying through tears for the situation.

Before long my prayer began to turn into a poem and “Freedom For All” is what came from my heart that evening.