Psalm 83 - "God's Great Dance Floor"

I woke up with Chris Tomlin's song "God'a Great Dance Floor" going through my head and thought "Why in the world did God give me this song today?" Is it because we are burying a dear man who is now dancing with Jesus? Is it because the Lord wants to remind me He is with me through this MS flair-up? Is it because there is a different reminder in this song for me? I am not sure but I am praying for revelation. I prayed and the heard, "Psalm 83." I said, "Is that You Lord?" His reply, "Yes, Daughter. Psalm 83 is for those in Dennis' Family who aren't in relationship with me."

Psalm 83

1 O God, do not remain silent;
    do not turn a deaf ear,
    do not stand aloof, O God.
2 See how your enemies growl,
    how your foes rear their heads.
3 With cunning they conspire against your people;
    they plot against those you cherish.
4 “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation,
    so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.”

5 With one mind they plot together;
    they form an alliance against you—
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
    of Moab and the Hagrites,
7 Byblos, Ammon and Amalek,
    Philistia, with the people of Tyre.
8 Even Assyria has joined them
    to reinforce Lot’s descendants.

9 Do to them as you did to Midian,
    as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
10 who perished at Endor
    and became like dung on the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
    all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, “Let us take possession
    of the pasturelands of God.”

13 Make them like tumbleweed, my God,
    like chaff before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest
    or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15 so pursue them with your tempest
    and terrify them with your storm.
16 Cover their faces with shame, Lord,
    so that they will seek your name.

17 May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;
    may they perish in disgrace.
18 Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord—
    that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.

These beginning verses encourage us to pray for those who are blinded by the enemy. It is our responsibility as believers to cry out to the Lord for their eyes to be opened. We all need to fear the Lord. When we do, we will live the life He desires of us. Matthew Henry writes, "God would make their enemies like a wheel; unsettled in all their counsels and resolves." As I read those words, I thought of how Doc prays when he is praying for those who need to accept the Lord. "May their beds be hard and their food not taste good." Sounds harsh yet when life gets unbearable people turn to the Lord. We have to get to the end of ourselves in order to realize we need Him. Matthew Henry continues on:

"God's triumphs over his enemies, clearly prove that he is, according to his name JEHOVAH, an almighty Being, who has all power and perfection in himself. May we fear his wrath, and yield ourselves to be his willing servants. And let us seek deliverance by the destruction of our fleshly lusts, which war against the soul."

Amen! We must accept Jesus into our heart in order to triumph over the enemy. It doesn't mean he won't come back over and over again but it does mean when he does the Lord will give the strength to stand up to him. When Dennis accepted the Lord, he still dealt with the fear of dying. His fear was crippling for a few weeks. I had the opportunity to talk with him and pray with him about it. Even when he was on the ventilator and I wasn't sure if he could hear me or not the Lord confirmed he did by the tear that went down his cheek after I prayed. The last time I went into his hospital room he was sleeping and I quietly prayed. He woke and the smile on his face was priceless. He was so weak yet three times he got out the words, "Thank you." What a blessing to see the Lord's peace on his face. A couple months ago after he accepted the Lord I shared with him and Patty the song "I Am Not Alone" and in these last few days that song has been so very real to me. When we received the message he was taking his last breathes it came on the radio as we went to be with them. Later in the evening when he did take his final breath as we were driving back to the house it came on the radio again. Dennis knew he was no longer alone. He also had peace with leaving this earth because of two things. One, he would have a new body when he got to heaven. Second, he knew the Lord would take care of his family once he was no longer able to. To that I say "woo hoo!" Dennis is up there dancing with the Lord on two complete legs. I can just imagine him singing...

I feel alive, I come alive
I am alive on God's great dance floor
I feel alive, I come alive
I am alive on God's great dance floor
I feel alive, I come alive
I am alive on God's great dance floor
I feel alive, I come alive
I am alive on God's great dance floor
I feel alive, I come alive
I am alive on God's great dance floor
God's great dance floor!

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for these words today. Thank You for the peace that You gave Dennis in those last days. Thank You for him overcoming his enemies to be in relationship with You. I pray for his family today...the day of the funeral is so hard with so many emotions to go through. The coming days of 'firsts' will also be hard. But Father, I pray each and every one of them will find Your peace in their life. I pray they will not only seek You but find You. Lord, use me as a vessel for them to find that peace. Fill me to overflowing so I have more of You and less of me in order to have Your words. Father, today I pray for physical, emotional and mental strength to be over me. I pray for Your strength to be in abundance. Lord, I don't want to just get through this day but I pray to be a blessing to others through it. Speak through me, Lord in a mighty way. I am so grateful for the few months I had to get to know Dennis and to be a part of his spiritual journey. Knowing he is with Jesus blesses me in abundance. Thank You Jesus for being My Strength. Amen.