“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.” (Psalm 104:33, ESV)
Which do you remember best: a song from your childhood or what you had for lunch last week? Probably the song. Music “sticks” in our minds, and years later we recall the words to a melody we haven’t sung in decades.
Can you still sing the A-B-C song? Probably. Even when our memory fades, the music we learned years ago is still locked inside. I remember nursing home services where residents would sing, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and “Amazing Grace” as easily as they had years before. The familiar hymns came from deep inside, the words not dimmed by aging.
the power of music
Music is powerful, crossing all cultures and all ages. It reaches into our souls to encourage us, calm our stresses, and set us free. That’s why you may find yourself humming or singing as you go about your daily schedule. Music just makes us feel better. More importantly, it forms an integral part of our worship, both in church services and during our personal devotions at home.
There are three songbooks in the Bible: Psalms, Song of Solomon, and Lamentations. Solomon alone wrote 1,005 songs (I Kings 4:32). We find music all through God’s Word —in times of war, in times of victory, in times of trouble, in times of happiness. Here are just a few of the times music is recorded in the Bible.
- After escaping Egypt and crossing the Red Sea, the Israelites sang a song to the Lord (Exodus 15).
- David played his harp to calm the spirit of King Saul (I Samuel 16:23).
- Praise singers marched out ahead of the Israelite army (II Chronicles 20:21).
- David organized singers and musicians for Temple worship (I Chronicles 25).
- Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn together after the last supper (Matthew 26:30).
- Paul and Silas had a midnight songfest while in prison (Acts 16:25)
sing to the lord
Do you ever sing to the Lord during your personal time of devotion? There is something exhilarating about singing our praises to the Lord. We just can’t help but worship Him because “it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful” (Psalm 147:1, NKJV). Although I do have music on my phone, there is something about actually singing the words rather than just listening to them that makes the message of the song come alive. I feel God’s Spirit surrounding me as I sing to Him.
Let’s take a little time today to sing our praises to God. Our spirits will lift and we will feel joy as we raise our voices in worship. When we have been filled with God’s Spirit, we have a song inside, just waiting to break out.
Lord, thank You for putting music in my soul. I direct the words of the songs back to You in praise and worship. You fill my soul with joy as I sing the new song You gave me.
(Additional scriptures on music in worship: II Chronicles 5:13; Psalm 28:7; Psalm 40:3; Psalm 100:2; I Corinthians 14:15; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13.)
2 Comments
I feel like I’m lost right now. My husband and I just returned back to church 12/11/22 and it felt good to be in church again. I guess what I’m trying to say is I need the right path to follow . And that’s where I need the help.
Thanks Rachel
First of all, welcome home. I am glad you and your husband have returned to church. That is an important step and shows that you are seeking the right path for your life. If you have not spoken with your pastor about feeling lost, please do so. He can address some of your concerns and offer steps you can take to grow in your walk with the Lord. He may also suggest you have a mentor/accountability partner–someone you can talk to when you have questions or feel discouraged. Is there a Bible study group you can join or a married couples group that will connect you with other committed believers in the congregation? And of course, spending time with the Lord each day is important. You will be in our prayers. Feel free to write again. Blessings!