Heaven's Embrace

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CD: How Can I Keep From Singing?
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CD: How Can I Keep From Singing?--Accompaniment Tracks

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I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.
(2 Nephi 1:15)

Throughout my life I have found great satisfaction in coming to our Heavenly Father in prayer. He has answered my prayers of thanks and expressions of joy, and has also comforted me in difficult times when my needs were more insistent and my urgency greater. As I approached the Lord during one of the latter times, when a beloved brother fought for his life in an ICU, I felt (not for the first time) as though the Lord simply put His arms around me--not physically, but spiritually--and though I didn't know what the outcome would be, I knew that He was aware of our needs and would do what was right for His children.

It occurred to me then that when we approach our Heavenly Father like the children we are, He does what every loving parent does: He puts His arms around us, and prayer becomes like the embrace of heaven. Psalm 57 begins this way: "...in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge..." What a comfort to know that the Lord is willing and waiting to give each of us shelter in the shadow of his wings, and encircle us in the arms of His great love.

Lyrics

When shadows gather
When shades of night descend
I kneel to lay my burdens
At the Father’s feet again
I offer up my sorrow
Entrust to Him my grief
And at His touch my heart is filled with peace

(Chorus)
Borne upon a prayer
My soul is lifted up
Enfolded in the arms of everlasting love
Cradled in His kindness
Sheltered by His grace
Like a child in heaven’s embrace

When heartaches linger
And tears I cannot stay
I find my hope and refuge
In His presence as I pray
No hurt beyond His healing
No pain beyond His reach
And at His touch my heart is filled with peace

(Repeat chorus)