This Lent, I have been spending time reading slowly through the Letter to the Hebrews. This past Monday, I focused on Hebrews 5:12. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food.

I set aside my Bible, intending to enter into a prolonged, intensely meaningful time of rest – hoping to hear God speak into my heart. Instead, I heard a song. Ok, not too surprising. I have connected with God through music for most of my life.

However, this was not a beautiful Nichole Nordeman or Fernando Ortega standard that drifted into my mind bringing serenity and peace. My efforts at thoughtful prayer were hijacked by the voice of Meghan Trainor trilling through my brain.

Because you know

I’m all about that bass

‘Bout that bass, no treble

“Uh, Really, God?” I questioned. “OK, this is me, getting in the way of you. Take this silly pop song away and come to me. Come in the way I need you. I don’t try this often enough, but I’m here now. Please wipe my voice out of my head so that I can hear yours.”

I’m all about that bass

‘Bout that bass

Breathing deeply and trying to set aside my voice once more, I prayed, “Please, God. I’m trying hard to get out of your way so that you can meet me here!”

“Just listen,” was the response I heard. And then that song again, but the lyrics started to change...

You know I’m all about the grace,

‘bout the grace

“Wait. Is this you, God? This silly pop song that gets stuck in my head every time I hear it on the radio? Ok, I’ll play. What’s the rest?”

You know I’m all about the grace,

‘bout the grace, not yo’ works.

What could I do, but go with it? What follows are new lyrics to Trainor’s hit song. This was my devotional on Monday morning. In answer to my prayer, “Come in the way I need you,” it seems that this was God’s response. It was just what I needed to hear.

Maybe it wasn’t. Either way, I had a lot of fun in God’s presence!

 

All About that Grace

Refrain:

Because you know I'm all about that grace,

'Bout that grace 'bout that grace, not yo’ works

I'm all 'bout that grace,

'bout that grace, not yo’ works

I'm all 'bout that grace,

'bout that grace, not yo’ works

I'm all 'bout that grace,

'bout that grace (1^st time: grace, grace, grace)

 

Yeah it's pretty clear, you ain't no whooptie-do

But I can love you, love you like I'm supposed to do

I am redeeming God and I’m just oozing grace

All the right love in all the right places

I see Pelagius working that vow of yours

But you know that stuff ain't real

And I don’t need those chores

I gave you beauty beauty just let it shine

'Cause every inch of you is perfect

From the bottom to the top

Yeah, my So-on he told you don’t worry and suffer strife

He says, God knows your needs and He gives you abundant life

You know I don’t want no self-righteous, rat-racing human doll,

So, if that's what's you're into

Then sit a while and hear this song

 

Because you know I'm all about that grace,

'Bout that grace 'bout that grace, not yo’ works

I'm all 'bout that grace,

'bout that grace, not yo’ works

I'm all 'bout that grace,

'bout that grace, not yo’ works

I'm all 'bout that grace,

'bout that grace

 

I'm bringing Jesus back

Go ahead and tell the whole wide world that

(No, I'm not playing) I know you think you're bad,

But I'm here to tell you,

Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top

Yeah, my So-on he told you don’t worry and suffer strife

He says, God knows your needs and He gives you abundant life

You know I don’t want no self-righteous, rat-racing human doll,

So, if that's what's you're into

Then sit a while and hear this song

 

Refrain (3x)

Rebecca Tankersley is a deacon at St. Augustine's Oak Cliff

© Rebecca Tankersley, 2015. All rights reserved.