I know I do this a lot, but I am playing the Parkinson's card today, meaning even though I am struggling with this disease I am making the choice to fix my gaze on Jesus. I am choosing to not live as a victim, but to live as a victor over Parkinson's and it just so happens that the songs and stories behind the songs I share each week have been helping me do that in a brand new way with a brand new perspective. Even during times when I have felt alone in my battle, the truth is God has never let me go. In fact, when I felt like I was holding onto God, the real truth of the matter is that he was holding on to me…and that is absolutely glorious. I actually have moments when I don't even feel or believe I have Parkinson's. There are many reasons for that, which I will not go into right now, but suffice it to say, I am choosing to live my life from my God's point of you.
This week’s song, Hold On, was received on August 3, 1998 as I was preparing for our monthly Night of Praise. The Night of Praise was a monthly gathering I hosted and led for 15 years. Each month, people from every denominational background and every walk of life would assemble for worship and we would exalt Jesus for over three hours at each event.
It was my practice to seek the Lord to see if any if He had any songs of deliverance for me to share with the people of these gatherings. If the Holy Spirit had given me a song for that particular group, I would ask all the people to have a seat. I would ask all those who were dealing with a specific issue to stand while I sang the song over them from God's perspective.
On this particular night, the Lord had given me the song, Hold On. I remember asking if there were any people present that evening who felt they were hanging on to life by a thread…if there were any people there who felt so emotionally broken they found it difficult to even cry out to God…if there were any people present who just needed to feel seen…to know and to be known…any who needed to be held close and to receive the comfort of the Lord’s presence…if there were any weary from the constant barrage of the enemy’s lies and just simply needed a reprieve from spiritual battle.
And then I asked them to do a bold thing. I asked them to stand right where they were and allow me to sing over them. I then encouraged all those around those who had stood to surround them and lay hands on them and pray for them as I sang.
The reason I had them stand is that I believe honesty is the first step towards truth and truth sets us free. That night, over 100 people stood to receive ministry. I encouraged those who stood for ministry to disregard me and to hear their Father God's heart for them. As I began to sing, the sound of weeping began to fill that auditorium. In that moment, God's presence was absolutely tangible.
Let me share some of my favorite passages from God’s Word that give me the understanding that God has a hold on me with a love that will never let me go.
When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches,
For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to You;
Your right hand takes hold of me.
Psalm 63:6-8 NASB
Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
[If] I take up the wings of the dawn,
[If] I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will take hold of me...
How precious also are Your thoughts for me, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.
Psalm 139:7-10, 17-18 NASB
You are my hiding place;
You keep me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 32:7 BASV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers [and sisters,] whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:6-8 NASB
I encourage you to do just that; to think about things that are worthy of praise; to remember you have been given the mind of Christ and can change the way you think about things; and to always see every circumstance of life from the King's point of view. Hold on to the truth and allow the Truth to hold on to you.
Dennis Jernigan
To hear The Dennis Jernigan Podcast version of this teaching and to hear the song, Hold On, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/hold-on/
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