DEVOTIONAL
“They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.” [Job 21:12]
“My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.” [Psalm 71:23]
“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” [Psalm 95:1]
“Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!” [Psalm 105:2]
“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” [Mark 14:26]
1 Samuel 16:23
And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
Is there one here who has not been moved by music in one way or another? Watching a kid’s program at church usually chokes me up; mostly because I can remember, just yesterday it seems, my 21, 23 and 24 year-old being up there.
The children are hilarious to watch! I would never say God is lacking in His sense of humor. Little Missy squirming because she forgot to go potty before the performance, Bobby scratching because the wool from his shepherd costume itches, Betty Lou sings timidly because she forgot the words when she saw the large crowd who was not there during practices and Jr, singing at the top of his lungs while bumping into Daisy, who is very excited and is anxious to display her hand motion knowledge! What a beautiful, beautiful sight they all are!
Have you been at a low point in your life and heard a song close to your heart, offering words of comfort and peace? The Lord mercifully gave us music to comfort and to worship and praise Him.
Ironically, music usage in praise within churches has become more and more divisive over the years. What once and should still, bring people together as they praise the Lord, turned into a power struggle over pipe organs, drums and so much more! Leave it to mankind’s interference to make a mess of anything!
Let’s teach the children the importance of worship, the true meaning of praise, taking hold of some of that knowledge understanding for ourselves. Perhaps we can let go of our will long enough to grasp the purpose of the songs. Personally, I am NOT all for the “headbanging” Christian rap or the love songs that couldn’t make it on the secular charts, so the artist substituted in Jesus’ Name for that of a loved one in the interest of marketing in a “spiritual” genre. Neither am I hip on trying to praise through drudgery and dirges, sounding like a stroll through and ancient monastery.
Be JOYFUL! P R A I S E and worship! How sad to think that those sweet little ones up there trying so hard and with so much enthusiasm, will be soon enough, reduced to conflict regarding what is “appropriate”. Let the Holy Spirit convict someone of their musical means of worship.
If there is a struggle because of theological discrepancies in the wording of songs, that is a different matter altogether! For the sake of this reading, it is ONLY a matter of style. Isn’t there ENOUGH division without this being one more matter?
PRAYER
Lord our God
Please cause us to want to please
You in what we say and do
When we lift up songs of praise
We want to delight You
Help us to show our children through example
How to live a godly life
Worship being a critical component
Lord, often times when we try to intervene
Even in love, convinced we are right
It only comes across as us attempting to get our own way, perhaps we are
Our words tend to be abrasive
Attempts at correction are more akin to condemnation
You are more than capable of speaking for Yourself
Move us out of the way, please, Lord
We speak into the ears
But Loving and Kind King….
You speak into the heart
Thank You, O God
For beautiful music
We know one day we will be singing and playing in Eternity for You
Perfect sounds
Uncontested hymns
Songs fit only for Paradise
Zephaniah says that You sing over us
Let us find such comfort in that
Knowing how special we are to You, Father
That You, the Maker of the Universe
Has a song to sing for His children
Until we fall before You, Lord
You know our hearts
Our motives
Hold off our judgments of one another
And let us focus on praising You
In the Name of Jesus
Who makes our hearts sing
AMEN
SONGS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I71XhjqoHvs “Shout to the Lord”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdzaFJgazTY “SING HALLELUJAH
“Go Tell It On The Mountain”
