Advent Songs, part 1: counselor

I love advent.

Just within the past year, thanks to a friend who was with me 24/7 in our first holiday season away from home on this side of the globe, I was reminded of the holy-days afresh—especially how to celebrate Advent, this season of eager waiting and longing, looking forward to Jesus’ birth: Emmanuel’s advent, or coming, to us.

And so this year, I’ve slowly taken that mantle back up, to really press into this holy season that teaches me to wait again, to long again, to hope again—for something greater than a day off, something better than a Netflix binge session, something more than anything life can give me, someone so much more. I’m a few days behind already, but catching up thanks to a slow morning where I’m allowed to do just that.

I’ve been behind because of a week hosting a friend in my country, in my city, and it was a hard week—but we got to see the faithfulness of God so clearly, so transcending our circumstances and our emotions and our ability. But still, both of us were groping for joy in the darkness. We were emptied, and now we need to be filled afresh. And through this time of beginning the Advent journey, for me, joy has come. 

And it has come with a song. 

And He wants me to share it. 

So, background.

Here’s what I’m doing for Advent this year:

I’m reading the She Reads Truth daily devotional blog posts.

I’m memorizing passages that will proclaim the Good News to me day after day (1 Timothy 1.12-17; 1 Peter 1.3-9; Isaiah 9.2-7).

And weekly, I’m listening to a sermon series on Isaiah 9.2-7, about the titles given to the Messiah there: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, & Prince of Peace. (Yes, I’m also constantly singing Handel’s Messiah).

Today’s sermon was on our Wonderful Counselor.

Jesus embodies that for us—the One we can come to seeking answers, the One who will tell us what is wrong, the only One who can heal us of our heart’s innate brokenness. And from this sermon, came a song. A song that filled me with joy to sing of the truths of what Jesus has done. What His birth put into motion. What only He could do. It’s called, My Wonderful Counselor.  And I hope it will bring you joy, too. 

Wonderful Counselor

Listen here (simply click download on the page).  

my wonderful counselor
You are my wonderful counselor,
the giver of peace & the sword,
to divide my heart and its ligaments
from all it held onto before.  

You are my wonderful counselor,
who knows all that I cannot see,
to sing over me a song of love
so all that is broken—restored.  

And I will sing,
I will join Your song,
I’ll lift these hands in faith.
For my heart has been bolstered,
my soul has been saved,
by my Wonderful Counselor, today.  

You are my wonderful counselor,
the One who has sought me out,
to give me a new name,
a heart of flesh,
softened by all that You are.  

You are my wonderful counselor
the one that my soul adores
for your first loved me, 
when I was unlovely, You fell.  

And I will sing,
I will join Your song,
I’ll lift these hands in faith.
For my heart has been cleansed
and my soul restored
by my Wonderful Counselor,
my Love.      

PS: Please forgive the rough recording of this song & the fact that it probably sounds like some other song; I’m certainly no composer.