Chris' prayer: Tim Hughes' "Oh, Happy Day"

I think I'll always remember the first time I heard this song. It was at Encounter, a praise and worship/adoration session that I go to every month. It was so memorable because it was the culmination of such a wonderful, wonderful adoration experience. But what I remember most was how this song was prayed by a young woman seated near me.

It was clear that she already knew all the words to the song, and even knew some motions that, presumably, her youth group had learned. But what set her apart from all of the others doing the same motions and singing the same lyrics was the incredible authenticity with which she prayed. I could tell that, no matter how great my adoration experience had been, hers had easily been 10 times as powerful. The way she sang, the way she danced, the way she prayed exuded the lyrics that Hughes sings. She was experiencing endless joy, perfect peace, the ceasing of earthly pain, and she was celebrating, truly celebrating Jesus' presence in her life and in our world.

Every time I hear this song, I think of that young woman, and I try to match the enthusiasm and authenticity with which she prayed that night.


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics