There is a very popular song--number 4 on Billboard's top 100 this week--called “Shut up and Dance” by a
group called “Walk the Moon.” As I was listening to
this song recently, I started thinking of the story of how Jesus called to Peter to come out of the boat and walk on
the water with him--and the words below came to mind (go figure)! To the tune of “Shut
up and Dance:”
Oh don’t you dare look down
Just keep your eyes on me
I said “But I might drown”
He said, look up and walk with me
This Savior is my destiny
He said, “I’ll rescue you…
Look up and walk with me”
On the sea in fading light
The wind was blowing
Lightening flashing bright
Tossed around and helpless in the night
But, He’s stronger than weather
Much stronger than weather
He took my hand,
I don’t know how it happened
He pulled me up and He said,
Oh don’t you dare look down
Just keep your eyes on me
I said “But I might drown”
He said, look up and walk with me
This Savior is my destiny
He said, “I’ll save you-ou…
Look up and follow me”
(If you don't know "Shut up and Dance" you can find the video on YouTube).
I think I would be on shaky, even dangerous ground (or in over my head?) to say that God gave the these words to me. The entire thing didn't just pop into my head--I did spend some time editing and tweaking it. More importantly, in the OT God strongly condemns those who say God spoke when God did not speak.
But on the other hand, I have no musical talent or song-writing ability whatsoever (some readers will say, "Amen!"), and "Shut Up and Dance" has absolutely nothing to do with Peter or Jesus, so where did the words come from?
Some Christians might say that God never directly speaks to us today. Other Christians seem to assume that almost any random thought, feeling or inclination they have is God speaking to them.
The point of my post is this: How can we know when or if God is speaking as opposed to when our thoughts are just our own thoughts?
