04/20/2024
Today my devotional reading spoke of singing as a form of praise and prayer. The scripture reference for this devotional reading was Psalm 50:23 but I have added a couple of additional verses to it for additional clarity. Singing is a challenge for me because I have a hard time carrying a tune, or as an old saying goes… “He couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket.” I love music, I can hear it in my mind, and hum it, but the words just can’t seem to make it from my lips with the same intense beauty. However, I keep trying and hope that I am not torturing those around me when I do.
“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."
The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!"”
Psalms 50:14-15, 23 ESV
In my devotional reading today E.M. Bounds wrote that "the singing service in our churches is important, for according to the character of our singing, the genuineness of our praises will be measured." And he closed by asking us to "praise God with your sincere songs of joy today and every day."
Prayer, worship, and praise go hand in hand in our Church services. Praise fuels worship and worship fuels our prayers. However, singing is a humbling experience for me. My efforts at offering praise through song is a frustration to me, and must be an annoyance to those around me who sing well. I am certain my caty walling is downright painful for our choir leaders. For the longest time I would refrain from joining in chorus, but I have come to realize that despite the meager nature of my vocal offering, God sees my heart through it and joyfully lifts me up as my voice is added to those around me.
Oddly enough, I love music and singing. I listen to music off and on all day long, and even hear music in my mind, and write lyrics. I love music so much that certain songs and instrumental offerings bring me to tears, and I easily enter into worship and prayer while enjoying melodic accompaniment. What is it about music and song which can affect our emotional state so completely? Solemn songs, sad songs, mournful songs, songs of joy, songs of praise, and love songs... Only to name a few. Our very souls are touched by music and singing. Psalmists realized this link. In Psalm 95 we hear these words:
“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!”
Psalms 95:1-2 ESV
One night in Bible Study my Pastor spoke of the importance of the body as it relates to our spirituality and this morning I recalled a quote I once stumbled across that related to praise, spirituality, and our bodies...
"Praising God is one of the highest and purest acts of religion. In Prayer we act like men; in praise we act like angels." Thomas Watson
I contemplated this quote for quite some time before concluding that we truly are creatures unlike any other in creation. We are a bridge, and a border crossing between heaven and earth. So as we traipse back and forth between the physical and spiritual aspects of our lives we ask how we are best to serve the Lord. The apostle Paul asked himself this question as well...
“What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.”
1 Corinthians 14:15 ESV
So this morning as we cross in prayer and worship between our earthly bodies and our spiritual selves, let's do so in song despite our earthly ability. Let's please God with all the enthusiasm our souls can muster, and let heaven know that we have arrived. In my case I pray that the song which is sung by my spirit will repair the inadequacies of my mind and physical body to sing my praise like an angel, and that God will hear my voice, not as my body is able to sing it, but as my heart and soul offers it. Will other poor singers join with me?
Listen to Phil Wickham as he sings the 23rdpsalm and offers praise from his heart.
https://youtu.be/29vHO57fcFY?si=WIViz7llpX4XjqDl
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the song in my heart, and thank you for hearing my bodily voice just as you have given it to me. Father, I know that when you look at me you see the perfection of your Son Jesus, and not my sin, and I pray today that when you hear my singing as I offer praise you in song that it will be pleasing to you… having been transformed and perfected as well. Help me Lord to lift up my voice in joy and worship from my innermost being as the praise and prayer of my spirit sings out to you. I pray that one day, when I sing before your throne, that my ears will hear as yours do, and that as I do, my song will fill my heart to overflowing as its beauty brings me to tears… the tears of heaven. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who was, and is, and is to come. You are worthy Lord of eternal song, and I pray that one day I will join with all of creation, and every heavenly creature, in song before you, and that I will sing hymns with Jesus as the apostles did as I prepare to pray. Holy are you Abba, and greatly to be worshipped, praised, glorified, and honored above all.
“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”
Matthew 26:30 ESV
“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”
Mark 14:26 ESV
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! All Praise and Honor, and glory to God forever!
Amen!
Rich Forbes