Begging for revival

I have been deaf. Mute. My sense of smell isn't always trustworthy. Sometimes my hands feel numb when I hug you.

Just like salvation, joy is a gift offered me, not infused into me. When joy bombards, I am better now at grabbing hold and not letting go. Hearing everything. Saying everything. Smelling everything. Tasting everything. Feeling the touch.

I've heard it from so many places and so many different faces that I have to hear it as a clarion song calling me to change: you have to feel to reveal. They tell me that if I don't feel through these old memories, they will crash the party again sometime in the future.

And so I feel. Sometimes in silence as my heart breaks. Sometimes I can actually let the tears go. In Psalm 80:5, David asks how long God's anger will remain on His people:

You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure.

That verse is now. But as the Psalm closes, I hear something that makes my blood run cold for a moment, sends shivers up my spine. This one tickles me because it is my prayer, and I know that God answered it for the Jews:

Revive us, and we will call upon your name. Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved! (vs. 18-19)

Wake up to the morning light

wipe away the lonely nights

let a brand new day wash over you,

Wanna see you smile again

show some love to your crazy friends

wipe your tears away

those days are through

So baby hold on

just another day or two

I can see the clouds are

moving faster now

and the sun is breaking through

If you can hold on, to the one that's holding you

there is nothing that can

stop this crazy love

from breaking through

We're breaking through

Wake up to the rising sun

thank the Lord for the

things He's done

lift your eyes up to the

hope that's ever true

Wanna see you smiling girl

you're a light in this jaded world

wipe away those tears

this one's for you

And the stars are up there

shining for you

oh, the Father does adore you

His love will never change

And you and I

we were born to follow

the hope that will lead us to tomorrow

and no one can take it away

~ Hold On, TobyMac ~