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Key Bible Verse: The Lord your God has arrived to live among you. He will exult over you by singing a happy song." (Zephaniah 3:17). Bonus Reading:Zeph. 3:9–17

In 1981, God delivered musician Dennis Jernigan from a lifelong struggle with homosexuality. "He began teaching me," Dennis explains, "that being a new creation means the 'old Dennis' really is dead." Dennis married, became the father of nine children, and committed to living his life in praise to God.

He wrote "You Are My All in All" at an Oklahoma City church where he led a daily prayer meeting at 6:00 A.M. It's Jernigan's habit always to carry a music manuscript book with him. "I believe God sings over me," he explains, referring to [today's Key Bible Verse], "so I need to be listening. When I hear God, I write it down right away."

He was sitting at the piano thanking God "that He bore the punishment of my sin fully with the first drop of His blood." In that moment, the line came to him, "seeking You as a precious Jewel, Lord, to give up I'd be a fool." The song emerged in pieces. "I'd start the people praying over a specific need in the church, then I'd go back to singing what I was sensing in the Lord. With my left hand I'd play the piano, and with my right hand I'd write down the melody and the words."

—Phil Christensen and Shari MacDonald in Our God Reigns

My Response: I'll offer God thanks today and listen for what He "sings" back.

Thought to Apply: You are my strength when I am weak, You are the treasure that I seek, You are my all in all.

—Dennis Jernigan (lyrics reprinted by permission of author)

Adapted from Our God Reigns (Kregel, 2000) by permission.

Copyright © 2002 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

O Lord, You deserve my praise. Help me to offer it up to You and, as I do, experience Your blessing.

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