Oh My Soul

HoHum:

Sing “Oh My Soul” by Mark Hall of Casting Crowns

Oh, my soul

Oh, how you worry

Oh, how you're weary, from fearing you lost control

This was the one thing, you didn't see coming

And no one would blame you, though

If you cried in private

If you tried to hide it away, so no one knows

No one will see, if you stop believing

Oh, my soul

You are not alone

There's a place where fear has to face the God you know

One more day, He will make a way

Let Him show you how, you can lay this down

'Cause you're not alone

Here and now

You can be honest

I won't try to promise that someday it all works out

'Cause this is the valley

And even now, He is breathing on your dry bones

And there will be dancing

There will be beauty where beauty was ash and stone

This much I know

Oh, my soul

You are not alone

There's a place where fear has to face the God you know

One more day, He will make a way

Let Him show you how, you can lay this down

I'm not strong enough, I can't take anymore

(You can lay it down, you can lay it down)

And my shipwrecked faith will never get me to shore

(You can lay it down, you can lay it down)

Can He find me here

Can He keep me from going under

Oh, my soul

You're not alone

There's a place where fear has to face the God you know

One more day, He will make a way

Let Him show you how, you can lay this down

'Cause you're not alone

Oh, my soul, you're not alone

WBTU:

Mark Hall was battling cancer when he wrote this song. The inspiration for the song comes from 3 verses in Psalm 42 and 43, these three verses say exactly the same thing. “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalms 42:11, NIV.

This psalmist is talking to himself, ever done that? He is trying to lift up his spirits because they are down. The solution, he discusses with himself, is to put his hope in God and praise Him.

When it comes to our mood, there are two groups of people: those who are down in the dumps and those who are soaring in the clouds. In reality, most of us are somewhere between these two.

Thesis: No matter where you consider yourself, high or low, I have some advise for you this morning.

For instances:

1. For those feeling low

Look inward

Why are you downcast, why are you so disturbed?

Admit how we feel. Hard time dealing with what we fail to acknowledge. Ask God to show us the root of the problem. Is it pent up anger? Envy? Unforgiveness? Pride? Lust? Physical or mental fatigue? Be open to what God reveals.

2. Look upward

Put your hope in God,

Instead of focusing on our bad situation or mood, focus on the One who knows the way out

3. Remember God’s past faithfulness.

For I will yet praise him, also “These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.” Psalms 42:4, NIV.

Booth Brothers- Praise God anyhow: Praise God for His love, Praise God for His life, Praise God for His Son who died for me, Praise God for the bad times, Without them I’d never know the good times, Praise God, Praise God anyhow

Many of our hymns were written by people doing just this, praising God anyhow!

4. Remember that we do not have to understand.

Just because we scratch our heads trying to figure out what God is doing right now, this does not mean it won’t make sense later. Even though it may sound hollow to our ears, the Word says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28, NIV.

5. Resist bitterness.

When our hopes are dashed resentment can set in. “See to it that no-one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Hebrews 12:15, NIV. How do we resist bitterness? Remember this, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31.

2. For those feeling high

A. Good time to take inventory. Do a self examination. Have a mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, and social checkup. Ask ourselves: