You, Lord, are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands. How wonderful are your gifts to me; how good they are!
Psalm 16:5-6 (GNT)
It was a Saturday morning like most in many ways. Dad (me) was taking his sweet time getting out of bed and our younger children, each one as I greeted them, came with their cheerful battery charged, “Good morning, Dad!” I do love those moments of waking up to the energy and optimism of my children! As a dad of eight (yeah, that is not a misprint or an auto correct error!) morning can be one grand optimistic vision as beaming faces each come through the door! We do also get up on the wrong side of the bed, amplified by ten! This was not one of those days.
God had a special gift for me on this Saturday. You see, one of our children was not making his way to the bedroom because he couldn’t. He was tucked in right beside me where he often is. Elijah is 5 and he has cerebral palsy. He is prone to having prolonged seizures in the early morning that send him and us with him to the emergency room. So, we keep him close these days.
Elijah greeted me that morning with the greatest optimistic vision. His greeting came in the form of a repeated request. This particular Saturday morning, Elijah requested music. I selected a song for him and we listened together. The song ended. Elijah, who does not speak clearly, spoke something I understood very well. He said, “Again!” We listened to the song again. When it ended a second time he repeated the request, “Again!” Once more we listened. As the song repeated for the third time, the tears started streaming down my face as I began to hear God’s encouragement to my heart. “Declare this as the prayer of your heart, Mike. I am all you will ever need!” Elijah’s request came over and over again. We listened to the song more than a dozen times I think.
I now call this song, “Elijah’s Song!” From the heart of a 5 year old who can’t walk, came encouragement for his dad to stand with him in Christ! Again and again! The song was, “Lord, I Need You.” (Matt Maher)
Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You’re the One that guides my heart
Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I’ll fall on You
Jesus, You’re my hope and stay
Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You…
