There are a number of versions of this song doing the rounds going from efforts like this to more solo black-gospel style versions. It’s not uncommon to hear this sung in crusades and large meetings from tele-evangelists, etc. (I’ll leave that to you to decipher if that’s a good or bad thing, but it is a thing alright.)
I recall the first time hearing this song done by Ron Kenoly. I was blown away by it. The key to why I was so moved was in its musical build up that reminded me of the sort of procession you can imagine when the people of Israel gathered together at the temple in anticipation of the manifest presence of God at its inauguration. For them the building was it – the very house of God and with the cloud of His glory settling on the place awe and wonder, dread and praise would enrapture those in attendance.
To an extent people still live for a ‘buzz’ like that. In those large gatherings, that sense of crowd mentality that is infectious and can have people caught up in a mood and atmosphere that before they know it leads them to do things and feel things they may not have otherwise considered. The real power of a mood and a state of mind is when it is not done by that level of influence, but when the whole being is consciously aware of what’s going on even if the sheer awe of the moment still overwhelms them. They need not the music or the crowd, they only need think on again about Jesus and the glory of the Father.
Those thoughts and contemplations are not cerebral alone. They are not emotion-driven solely. They are not just the whipped up fervour of someone trying to get themselves in the right frame of being. This is the core of worship.
Dear God, thank you for your presence given by your Spirit and now at this time I remember that which comes with your presence and I worship you for that and yield to the wonder and majesty, power and praise of all who you are and ask again that the conscious recognition of your presence with me will influence my thoughts, words and actions. Help me to live in the light of your glorious presence and be ever conscious of it in all that I do so that as I glory in your embrace your presence fills the place of my being and effects every minor transaction that I take part in – for you, to the glory of you, for the praise of you, in worship of you and adoration and love and passion and whole-being devotion to you.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
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