Day 20: How Great is Our God

We sang How Great is Our God yesterday in church.  I really like this song - it is really the way that it is done instrumentally that gets me.  It has great lyrics too - very simple, but to the point. 

The way that I've heard this song done often is that it starts off very simple, and calm.  As it approaches the bridge it recruits every instrument and voice possible and swells to this lyric:

Name Above All Names

Worthy of All Praise

After the bridge it the song mellows out and is stripped down until only voices are left.  

I move pretty fast.  If you've ever seen me walking to class, or if you've ever walked with me, you know that I book-it.  I was just born a fast walker.  That is just one of the many things in life that goes fast.  I am constantly trying to push forward.  If I can get to next week...If I can get to this summer...If I can get to next year...I have to remember to slow down.  I have to remember to appreciate where I am at right now.  I have to remember to love and appreciate God where I am at right now.  I know God is great.  I know He is capable of wonderful things - miracles large and small.  Even though I know He can do that without my acknowledgement I still need to stop every once in a while and just say God, you are great.

After the song builds up to a swell, it slowly starts to strip away layers of instruments until it is just voices singing the chorus:

How great is our God

Sing with me

How great is our God

and all will see

How great, how great is our God

It reminds me that God is there in the swell of life and in the quiet of life.  Even after everything is peeled away, God's presence remains.  It is important to seek Him in both of those places.  As the song ends with the quiet a capella voices, you look around the sanctuary and you see a multitude of other tongues acknowledging it - our God is great.

~SP