Give a Shout!

We all have them—days we don’t feel like praising God. Maybe we’re exhausted and can’t even find the words to offer the feeblest prayer.

Maybe we’re convinced that God could never use us, because honestly…why would He?

The song, “Shout to the Lord” has led millions in worship to our Lord. But guess what? It wasn’t penned during a mountain-top experience. The words filled the heart of a young mother as she struggled to maintain peace in an upside-down life.

Below is an excerpt from Darlene Zschech’s book Shout to the Lord:

“…I really feel that God should get the glory from sending this song to all of us when we needed it so much. It just happened to come out of my personal worship time with the Lord. Desperate for His peace, I opened to the Psalms. I sat at our old out-of-tune piano tinkling the keys, and “Shout to the Lord” flowed out from my heart. I sang it over and over again and it lifted me up. Over the next few days, the song stayed with me, and it began to dawn on me that it might be a worship song.

I was terribly shy and felt a little embarrassed when I mentioned to Geoff Bullock, the Music Pastor, and Russell Fragar that I thought I had written a song. My hands were sweaty. I could hardly play it, I was so nervous. I kept starting and stopping. It took me twenty minutes to play it because I kept apologizing, “I’m sorry. Change anything you want. I know it’s probably stupid.” Eventually I made them stand with their backs to me while I played them the song. Even when they turned around and said that it was magnificent, I thought they were just being polite.

…I’m still amazed that when my pastor, Brian Houston, heard the song for the first time, he predicted it would be sung around the world. But when I remember that God is the One who gave the song, then I think perhaps I shouldn’t be so surprised. Truly, the song’s greatness comes from Him as all true praise does.” (Underlining is mine)

I love Darlene’s tender, humble heart and her desire to glorify Jesus.

This woman discovered a treasure that brought peace to her troubled days:

As we shift focus from our burdens to the One Who created us, we gain fresh perspective and renewed strength.

For no matter how inept and overwhelmed we feel on any given day, God will use us in our weakness. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Cor. 12:9)

This video is amazing. If you have a few moments, take a breath, step away from your daily cares, and worship the King of Kings.