I actually meant to include this in yesterday’s blog and completely forgot about it until I was at Mass this morning! Yesterday I talked about how God never leaves us empty handed when we let go and cling only to Him. This great song by Tenth Avenue North totally fits that bill, so I thought I would share:
I’ve got voices in my head
And they are so strong
And I’m getting sick of this
Oh Lord, how long will I be haunted by the fear that I believe?
My hands like locks on cages of these dreams I can’t set free
But if I let these dreams die
If I lay down all my wounded pride
If I let these dreams die
Will I find, that letting go lets me come alive?
So empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
Oh, empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
With You
With You, Lord
‘Cause these voices speak instead
What’s right is wrong
And I’m giving into them
Oh please Lord, how long will I be held captive by the lies that I believe?
My heart’s in constant chaos
And it keeps me so deceived
But if I let these dreams die
If I could lay down my dark desire
‘Cause if I let these dreams die
Will I find, You brought me back to life?
So empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
Oh Lord, empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
With You
‘Cause my mind is like a building burning down
I need Your grace to keep me
Well keep me from the ground
My heart is just a prisoner of war
A slave to what it wants and to what I’m fighting for
So won’t You…
So empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
Oh, empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with You
With You
With You
I need You now
I need You now Lord
With You
With You
I need You now Lord
So, maybe it seems a little odd that yesterday I said we wouldn’t find ourselves empty handed and then today I post a song about empty hands. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have my heart full instead of my hands full. I love Tenth Avenue North, their songs are so full of wisdom and Scripture that I can’t help but play them on repeat and this song is no different. So often we find ourselves fighting different voices, different opinions, and so we are called to pray that God would fill our hearts with His love, the only thing we ever need.
I think the bridge is my favorite part of this song because it speaks so honestly about how we so often feel, as though our minds are burning down, our hearts are prisoners of war and we not only desire His grace but we need His grace to keep us from the ground. We desperately need Him to empty our hands and fill our hearts with His love.
I need You now, Lord. I need You always, Lord. Empty my hands, fill up my heart. Capture my mind with You. (actually, the first few times I heard this song I thought the last couple of lines said “I need You now, I’m broken, which is just as amazing. We are broken people in need of His love) Fill my heart with Your love.
AMEN.
