Borrowed Breath

A few years ago, a friend gave me a worship cd by Brian and Jenn Johnson called “We Believe.” It is a live recording of original pieces that they wrote. I listened to it and really enjoyed it for awhile, but it got shelved as albums often due. Recently I rediscovered it and began listening to it again. And I am loving it. It is an anointed collection of songs of truth and encouragement and exhortation wrapped in beautiful music with new and creative melody lines and well-written lyrics. There are nuggets of gold in this album waiting to be mined by the seeking heart.

Just as certain passages of scripture jump out at us in ways they never have before depending on what we are going through, two songs hit me in a fresh way as I let this album play over several times in my car. The first is a song entitled “You Have Ravished My Heart.” Upon reading that title, you may immediately think that the song-writer (Brian) is writing to his God telling Him that He ravished Brian’s heart. But actually the song is written from the perspective of God speaking to the song-writer, or as we discover, God speaking to His bride. Here are the lyrics:       

     I will draw you to me forever
     In righteousness, In justice and in mercy
     I will draw you and me together
     In loving kindness, In faithfulness and in grace 

     No longer your master, But your husband I will be

     You have ravished my heart
     With one glance of your eye
     How fair is your love
     My promised, my bride 

According to Merriam Webster’s dictionary, the definition of ravish is “to overcome with emotion (as joy or delight).”

We’ve all sung that song “Jesus loves me, this I know…” many times. And if you were to ask any follower of Jesus if He loves them, you would pretty much get a unanimous “Yes.” But how often have we pondered the truth that the God of the universe is flipping-out, head-over-heels in love with His bride? Do we really believe that “with one glance” of our eye toward Him, His heart is ravished with us?

The second song that jumped out at me is entitled “A Little Longer.” It is written by Jenn, and it is a great follow-up to the previous song. Here are the lyrics:

     What can I do for you?
     What can I give to you?
     What kind of song would you like me to sing?
     I’ll dance a dance for you
     I’ll pour out my love to you
     What can I give to you beautiful king 

     Cause I can’t thank you enough
     I can’t thank you enough 

     Then I hear you sing to me
     “You don’t have to do a thing
     Just simply be with me and let those things go
     It can wait another minute
     Wait, this moment is too sweet, please stay here with me
     And love on me a little longer
     Cause I’m in love with you” 

Again in this song, we hear our Redeemer speaking to His redeemed. Jenn starts the song (as many of us do) saying we would love to pay back His love by doing something, yet we realize that we cannot thank Him enough. But then our Jesus replies that He just wants us. Just us, not what we can bring him. I love the line, “Just simply be with me and let those things go.” What are “those things” to which He is referring? He is speaking of the songs and dances and poured out love that we are offering. It’s as if He is saying, “Just wait. There will be time for those things. But for now, just be here with me. Let’s just be together.”

The last three lines tie directly into the previous song “You Have Ravished My Heart.” The God of everything asks us to stay with Him in this moment and love on Him a little longer because he is in love with us.

So today, stop and bask in the unconditional love of Christ. Don’t try to repay Him. Don’t even speak words of thanksgiving. Just rest in His embrace and soak up His love. You have ravished His heart. So stay and love on Him a little longer. He is in love with you.