Tag: talking to god

The next entry for my Blog is The River, which was written by Colby Wedgeworth, Jordan Feliz, and Josh Silverber. The song was initially released in 2015. A link to Jordan Feliz performing the song is at the bottom of the Blog.

The River

I know a place where we can go
To lay the troubles down eating your soul
I know a place where mercy flows
Take the stains make you whiter than snow

Like a tide, it is rising up deep inside
A current that moves and makes it come alive
Living water that brings the dead to life, oh-oh-oh-oh
We’re going down to the river
Down to the river, down to the river to pray
Let’s get washed by the water
Washed by the water and rise up in amazing grace
Let’s go down, down, down to the river (You will leave changed)
Let’s go down, down, down to the river (Never the same)

I’ve seen it move in my own life
Took me from dusty roads into paradise
All of my dirt, all of my shame
Drowned in the streams that’ve made me born again

Like a tide, it is rising up deep inside a
Current that moves and makes it come alive
Living water that brings the dead to life, oh-oh-oh-oh
We’re going down to the river
Down to the river, down to the river to pray
Let’s get washed by the water
Washed by the water and rise up in amazing grace
Let’s go down, down, down to the river (You will leave changed)
Let’s go down, down, down to the river (Never the same)
Let’s go down
We’re going down to the river
Down to the river, down to the river to pray
Let’s get washed by the water
Washed by the water and rise up in amazing grace
Let’s go down, down, down to the river (You will leave changed)
Let’s go down, down, down to the river (Never the same)
Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go down in amazing grace

Where do you go or what do you do when you just want to escape from everything, to a place of solitude? Sometimes life is just too difficult and we look for that special place or activity that brings us peace and allows us to get away, even for just a short time. This song tells us the best place to go to find the peace we are looking for and need. It is a place to bare our souls without being judged or ridiculed. It allows us to share our deepest darkest secrets and confess our wrongdoings without any retribution. It is a refuge where there is only peace, love, and comfort. What is really awesome about our special place of escape is that we can block out the misery of the world for just a bit, and then walk away feeling as if the dirt and grime from a sinful world has been taken out of our soul and washed our body clean. As we enter our area of solitude, we can almost feel the immediate impact of being there and feeling the only power that can cleanse away the darkness in our soul. The song says we are going Down to the River, but the river is not the water flowing somewhere under a bridge; it is the living water that only Jesus Christ can provide. This is the only water than can makes us whole again and cleanse our soul. The same living water that Jesus spoke of in the book of John, chapter 4.

Once you have experienced the living water, you will never be the same; your life is changed forever. When you open your heart to Jesus and accept him into your life, you always have that living water available and flowing inside of you. The challenge each of us face is that we must take the time to pray and actively engage that living water of peace inside of us. I know that Jesus is always available and always there, but it is in our court to listen to him and engage him; he is always ready and reaching out to us. I believe the primary obstacle we must overcome is making time for him, listening to him, and allowing his love to flow through us. When we go down to the River, we are essentially focusing on Jesus and not on the world around us. I am not sure how anyone really survives without having the River, for it is the only place where there is total forgiveness and no shame or guilt. It is the only place we can go for unconditional love and grace, and be who we really are.

We all have our struggles and our failures. I know I have said things I shouldn’t have said, done things I shouldn’t have done; but I also know that I haven’t always spoken up when I should have or taken action when I should have. We can dwell on the woulda, coulda, shoulda things in our lives or we can take the time to pray and ask Christ for not only his forgiveness, but also for his guidance and direction in our lives. Philippians 4:6 reminds us of what God does for us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” The day he died on the cross, he forgave us for every sin we have committed as well as all future sins. He wants us to come to him through prayer and just talk with him about what is going on in our lives. It is through this open communication that we feel his love, his forgiveness, and his power. If we do not take the time to pray and feel his arms around us, we will never have hope and we will never have peace; we will continue to be overcome by the influence of the world around us. Because of his amazing grace, we are forgiven and that we are worthy to hold his hand and walk with him. He starts the tide of cleanliness rising up inside of us every time we come to the River, our time of prayer and fellowship.

Hopefully you spend time every day just communicating and visiting with God. It doesn’t take special language or special words; you can talk to him like as a best friend or like a father. How long has it been since you experienced the power and love of Jesus Christ coursing through your veins and felt the peace that only he can bring? I thank him for being the River that washes the sin of the world off of me every time I come to him. The River is waiting for you.

Click to Hear Jordan Feliz Sing The River.