He Lives in you

A little over a year ago some good friends invited me & my husband to see The Lion King with them.  Never ones to turn down the theater, we gladly accepted the invitation and felt so lucky to see the show that had received so many incredible review.

It did not disappoint.

From the opening scene, really the opening words “NANTS INGONYAMA BAGITHI BABA SITHI UHM IGONYAMA” – you know, that first chant from The Circle of Life that sounds a little more like “naaah, tavenia, bobogitsibaba”  -  it brought chills {and probably tears because that’s how I am}.

And the costumes!

So lifelike in an artistic sort of way.

Anyway, it was a great show and we enjoyed our evening out with our friends.  I raved about the show for a few days afterward, but haven’t given it much thought since then.

Until a song popped unexpectedly into my head yesterday and I can’t seem to get it out {not that I really want to …}

The song is called ‘He Lives in You’ and it was one I had never heard before that evening at the theater.  It takes place when Simba is struggling with his birthright as the king of the pridelands.  He doesn’t see how he could possibly be king with all he had done wrong in his life.   So Rafiki, advises him to look into a pool of water where Simba sees the reflection of his father, Mufasa the great King.  It’s admittedly a bit mystical and pagan {as some Christian reviews have said}, but the song that follows that scene spoke so much to me that I can gladly overlook those issues.

I sat in our amazing front-row-of-the-balcony seats and all through the song I just wanted to stand up and shout “PRAISE YOU JESUS!” I withheld this urge {I’m sure to my husband’s great happiness} but the song made its way deep into my heart.

I’m sure the songwriters were not trying to incorporate God and theology into The Lion King {at least, I have not found anything that says so when googling ‘lion king christian meaning’}, but sometimes HE works his way into the most unlikely places so He can speak to His people.

Like this song:

Doesn’t it just give you chills? I’m sure Rafiki’s booming voice and Simba’s physique have a little bit to do with it, but those lyrics!  What truth about God’s character.

He lives in you

He lives in me

He watches over

Everything we see

Into the water

Into the truth

In your reflection

He lives in you

When it popped so randomly into my head yesterday, I was reminded of a few things:

1. No matter where I am or where I’ve been, He is with me, in me and over me.

2. Because I am created in God’s image, when I see my own reflection, I can also see God’s. That one is so hard … how often am I critical about my body, my features, my pale skin.  If I really believe His word {which I do} then I would realize that I am ‘perfectly & wonderfully made’ exactly as He designed me to be.

3. As a child of God, I am also an heir to His throne – ROYALTY.  It is my birthright.  All I have to do is claim it and then live in the power that comes from knowing my inheritance.  Not because I deserve it, but because He gifted it to me.

I hope something about these truths resonate with you.  They are big ones all found in a small scene of a broadway production.  I like how God works.

I’d love to hear your thoughts or questions or maybe even what the Lord speaks to your heart through this beautiful song.