Arise: Psalms of a Heart Set Free

By Dana Burke

Faith in its fullness is a process.
Process is the ongoing action of transformation. Process in our faith is the
perpetual action of reconciliation as we live restored through the cross of Jesus
Christ. Restoration does not happen without the process of reconciliation
because living sanctified lives requires us to change.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: May 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9781640882102

Book preview

1. Refining

My dad is a master electrician. Most of the childhood memories I have of his work area are of seeing his desk—or the kitchen table—covered with blueprints of new builds he was wiring. The plans would be laid out, and he would highlight where certain electrical items needed to go. I think this process led him to plan for wiring, plugs, switches, fixtures, appliances, etc. He saw the entire scope of the job on a blueprint that easily overlapped the edge of our kitchen table.

Usually, I would tag along to his worksites after school. By doing this, the blueprints became easier to understand as I saw the work in progress. Without the bearing of the work in progress, the blueprint would have been just some shapes and funny-looking symbols on paper.

In our faith, we don’t have a blueprint of what it’s going to take to reach the end state—because there is no end state. There’s just a perpetual process of refining and becoming more like Christ. We bear fruit that comes from abiding in His nature, and then through refining we become like a wine, to have our lives poured out.

Wine is usually classified by the year it was produced, and wine usually gets better as it ages. I delight in this as I realize that I may not see the purpose of refining for many years. Our lives have the capacity to relate to and pour into others at whatever stage or season we are in, because we can always testify that He has been faithful. He is the faithful one.

So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. For he knew all about us before we were born and he destined us from the beginning to share the likeness of his Son. This means the Son is the oldest among a vast family of brothers and sisters who will become just like him. Having determined our destiny ahead of time, he called us to himself and transferred his perfect righteousness to everyone he called. And those who possess his perfect righteousness he co-glorified with his Son!

Romans 8:28-30 (TPT)

Blueprint

When I submit to be refined

I do not get a blueprint

Of what it’s going to be like

I can only trust

When the pressure and heat come

That I will look like Jesus

When the refining is done

Stretching pulls

Stretching breaks

Everything that cannot withstand

The pressure of His perfection

Stretching pulls

Stretching breaks

Everything that cannot withstand

The capacity of the old wine skin

The old is gone

The new has come

Things will change

If you let them

You have the power to grow

You have the power to claim

The things held in promise for you

By the power of My name

The plans and purposes

I have for you are good

Full of hope and a future

The plans and purposes

I have for you are good

So, you cannot just stay here

One does not just simply arrive at abundance

Because there is always more to see

One comes alive in the process

Of growing in My glory

The blueprints are drafted

The destinations lined out

All awaiting your desire

To be devout

Step all in

Not just a toe over the line

Step all in

Truly live divine

Take your place

Walk in My authority

It might take a little while to walk it out

Hence, the refining

Masterpiece

I did it for the sake of glory

I did it for the sake of fame

I did it but I failed to see

That a masterpiece takes time

I rushed

I took shortcuts

I sought victory around every bend

I was motivated by me, not beauty of transformation

That’s where the lesson began

I cannot expect to reap

What was not sown

There’s something better than achieving

Something better in being known

I welcome the Father’s hand

I welcome the refining

Knowing He will bring forth His will

In His own timing

I welcome the process

The perpetual molding of me

Knowing that precept by precept

He is making me a masterpiece

He tells us everything over and over—one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there!

Isaiah 28:10 (NLT)

He builds us little by little. With special attention and care. He does this upon His beautiful cornerstone of Jesus Christ. It is imperative that we are built up in alignment with the Cornerstone.

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.’

Isaiah 28:16 (NLT)

Welcome refinement. Do not rush the Lord’s hand because you think your way is better. He will refine that stubbornness out of you, in a painful way if He must. Not because He causes the pain, but because the weed and root of pride will cause some temporary damage and discomfort when it is removed.

‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)

The voice of hustle wants you to rush His timing and the beauty of the process of growth so you can gain something that is temporarily satisfying. Listen to the voice of passion. Listen to the voice of His passionate love.

If you will let Him lead you in the path of life—if you will welcome the slow, sometimes painful, process of transformation—your soul will be awakened to the beautiful freedom of recognizing His voice and becoming fully alive in who He made you to be. When you are awakened to your calling, you will become a masterpiece.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)

Metamorphosis

I’m starting to emerge

I’m beginning to see

The things that You must tear down

To rebuild the new in me

You uproot

You overthrow

The things inside that hinder me

The things that don’t let me grow

You then mold, You refine

Your brilliant light, You let it shine

Radiance becomes the color I see

When I experience Your glory

I’m emerging from the shadows

Finding my courage, like a deer on the heights

I’m emerging from the shadows

I’m emerging into the light

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV)

Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.’

Jeremiah 1:9-10 (NIV)

Glory

I let it go

I let the dead things die

In my heart You are doing a new thing

I can no longer argue why

Good enough

Is not enough

When Your plan is to restore

I cannot keep holding on to things

That don’t plan to prosper

The noise is loud

But I hear Your voice

Everything around me shaking

As transitioning takes place

Out of the old

Into the new

From glory to glory

Looking more like You

Jesus

And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (AMP)

Refine

You closed up the Red Sea behind me

I am safe and sound on this shore

I won’t ever look back

Because I know who You are

You are Yah

The mighty warrior King

You are an all-consuming fire

You’re Almighty

How foolish am I

To look back on before

To think I had it better

But I wouldn’t be here

Here in Your presence

Here safe in Your hand

Here with my eyes fixed

Here trusting Your plans

You have won my heart

You satisfy every desire

You steady my soul

You refine me with fire

Ancient Doors

Why?

Why is it necessary to bring all of this up?

To unearth the buried?

To brush off the dust?

…

What lies hidden, festers

Given time, it will bubble up

Things are brought into the light

To be dealt with by love

He sees all your hidden places

The scars you try to cover up

He brings His light, not to condemn

But to redeem in His love

Sure, the suppressed stays hidden

No one will ever have to know

But you’ll be a tormented captive

Because the enemy has ammo

He will twist, he will blame

The father of lies is his name

The accuser of the brethren

He will walk all over you

If you let him

But you don’t have to

You can open the ancient doors

Locked by guilt, shame, and sin

You can open the ancient doors

By letting the King of glory come in

The Lord, strong and mighty

Will come to your rescue

The Lord invincible in battle

Saves because He loves you

Open up, ancient gates!

Open up, ancient doors!

Let the King of glory enter.

Who is the King of glory?

The Lord of heaven’s armies—

He is the King of glory

He is willing, are you ready?

Open up the ancient doors

Fling them wide and be free

Open up the ancient doors

For the King of glory

Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.

Psalm 24:7 (NLT)

Testament

Canyons line the depths of my heart

A testament to where I have been

Through every high and every low

You have been here within

My ever-present help in times of trouble

You surround me like a shield

Should evil ever come near me

You’ve given me the Sword of Truth to wield

Dazzling righteousness

A beautiful form

Sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword

Cutting between soul and spirit

Between joint and marrow

It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires

It bears revelation light

It brings Your truth to all darkness

It grounds my feet in the fight

It steadies me as I climb toward the heights

To reach the high places

To stand in the light

To dwell with all who have overcome

To have hinds’ feet

In the presence of glorious Son

The canyon journeys are never easy

Sometimes they can travel far

But each of their destinations are the same

It’s through streams of grace that they are carved

All leading us home

Into safe pasture to dwell

Led by the staff and rod of the Shepherd

Whose love never fails

In His love, He will rescue me

When I’m lost and alone

He will leave the ninety-nine

To find and bring me home

He will rescue me

When I get lost along the way

He will anoint my head with oil

He will fill my heart with praise

He will lead me

Into safe pasture again

I will learn from the valleys

They will become a hymn

A story to inspire

A song to encourage

A stream in the valley of Baca

For all the weary pilgrims to find courage

Yes, I was once there too

Alone, full of worry

Will I ever make it to the destination?

Or will I die in the journey?

Testimony restores hope

Like a living stream, it revives

It gives others the strength to continue

It gives others the power to climb

They grow in strength

As they take each step

In remembrance of triumph stories

Knowing they too can thrive on the heights

Knowing they too can bear witness to His glory

They conquered him completely through the blood of the Lamb and the powerful word of his testimony. They triumphed because they did not love and cling to their own lives, even when faced with death.

Revelation 12:11 (TPT)

How enriched are they who find their strength in the Lord; within their hearts are the highways of holiness! Even when their paths wind through the dark valley of tears, they dig deep to find a pleasant pool where others find only pain. He gives to them a brook of blessing filled from the rain of an outpouring. They grow stronger and stronger with every step forward, and the God of all gods will appear before them in Zion.

Psalm 84:5-7 (TPT)

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

Trials

The trials I face

Are joy laced with hope and grace

If I have the eyes

To see them that way

A chance to grow

A chance to learn

A chance for joy

To return

Why do I fear?

When the ground I stand on is rock

Why do I fear?

When Your hands hold the clock

Trials do not last forever

And treasure is usually found within

When our trials bring us to the end of ourselves

And into the fullness of Him

Upon the Heights

This air is different

This journey is new

Every step is one of faith

Every step is directed by You

It takes faith

To arrive without a map

I don’t doubt Your faithfulness

I doubt the ability within me

But You are Jehovah Jireh

You provide for me

You give me ears to hear

You give me eyes to see

That the greatest treasure in the world

Resides inside of me

Your Spirit is wealth

Its value is without measure

You guide me through all things

Your love weathers

The fiercest storm cannot shake You

The battle cannot wear You down

You are the greatest victor

You forever wear the crown

The crown of life

Eternal beauty

Forever growing

Beauty within me

Forever transforming

Perpetually restoring

Everything that was broken within me

You use for Your