Devotionals for the Heart: Dance through life following God's lead

The Dance
A devotional by Colleen C. Howard

“Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.”—Psalm 149:3 (ESV)

There’s a bronze sculpture in my family room of a man and woman dancing together. This is a treasured gift from the past. It catches my eye each time I walk into the room and causes me to remember the night when that sculpture found its way into my heart and home.

One December evening after work, I arrived home late. When I walked through the door, I caught a whiff of something wonderful cooking in the kitchen. A fire flickered in the fireplace, music filled the room, and my husband greeted me with a hug. Walking toward the kitchen, I saw an elegant bronze sculpture of a man and woman dancing together. A decorative envelope with my name on it was propped against the sculpture. Anticipation began to build inside me as I took the envelope, carefully opened it, and then discovered a gift I had always longed for: a certificate for ballroom dancing lessons.

Three months of lessons with the man I adore by my side. It just doesn’t get any better. This gift was more than just dance lessons from his heart to mine. He did this just for me, and it made my heart sing. A gift that shouted, “I love you” all the way down to my soul. Thereafter, I learned a lot of life lessons through ballroom dancing classes.

The most basic lesson in ballroom dancing is someone must lead and someone must follow. Yes, we were aware of that going in, but I don’t think I gave it any serious thought. However, I suspect that my darling husband knew all along—we were not going to rock the ballroom dancing world. Our challenge? We march to different drummers. And believe me, this is a problem on the dance floor! So much for smooth beginnings. This was the first of many dance lessons that season. We never got the hang of it, but that didn’t stop us. We fumbled, stumbled, twisted, and turned our way through each lesson. It was a joyous time, and there was much laughter.

This sculpture represents love and reminds me that dancing with someone is a give-and-take of the heart. My husband and I have been doing the marriage dance for quite a while now, and it’s not a problem-free endeavor. Sometimes he leads, sometimes I lead, and sometimes we step on each other’s toes. The dance isn’t perfect, but the music keeps playing.

The lessons learned from ballroom dancing remind me of my walk with Jesus Christ. I’m often distracted by the chaos of life and stumble off the path God has prepared for me. In His perfect timing, He gently reminds me to be still, know He is in control, and wait for His lead. Other days, I’m in step with the Savior and feel His presence at every turn.

When you walk through life with faith in Jesus Christ, you enter into God's loving arms and the dance begins. He is the master choreographer, guiding you gracefully through every leap and every turn. God will hold you tight and let you soar. He loves you, delights in you, and pursues you relentlessly. Accept His invitation to dance and your life will never be the same.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Jesus,

We rejoice as we praise you through prayer, music, and worship. Help us to remember you are in control. Just as life keeps moving forward, you’re faithful in guiding our steps, and will catch us when we fall. Praise be to God, the Father of all love and comfort. Please continue to lead us. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Let it Be a Hallelujah” Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Lead Me Lord” by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir with Elizabeth Goodine. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Artist of My Soul” by Sandi Patty. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Colleen C. Howard is a Jesus follower, wife, mom, mimi, educator and author. 

She lives with her husband in the beautiful Arizona desert where the sunsets are spectacular, the summers are hot, and the winters are a little slice of heaven. Her two adult children and their families live nearby. She considers it a joy to spend time with her family members!

She is a lifelong educator and co-founder of an educational professional development business. After spending her professional life in education, Colleen retired as the STEM Specialist for a large public school district. As she approached the end of that season, God placed a strong desire in Colleen’s heart to shine a light on God’s presence throughout ordinary days and encourage women in their faith-walk with Jesus Christ.

When asked what makes her faith walk real, Colleen replied, “It isn’t just one thing, but a million little things. Although some days bring trials and others bring joy, it’s never just another day.” She says when you give your heart to Jesus, each new day is another opportunity to walk hand-in-hand with Him and begin to know the heart of God. As you become more aware of His presence, stop, take a breath, and watch what God will do.

Colleen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Arizona State University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.

She has been published online via these websites: Inkspirations, Her View From Home, and Inside Out Worldwide.

~*~
Connect with Colleen:
Website: https://www.authorcolleenchoward.com/