Learning to sing.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Col. 3:16
This was part of a passage in a sweet friends wedding homily this past weekend, and one that I have been thinking of a lot over the past several weeks. I have found myself singing A LOT in recent months.... sorry to those of you who have heard me... joyful noises people. Joyful noises...
Sometimes I'm working, sometimes I'm on a walk, in the car, or getting ready for bed. One day I was thinking about the why---Why has singing hymns or other worship songs been a significant part life lately? Why do I want to make this a habit? Sometimes I've even forced myself to start singing. Yes-- made a conscious effort to sing out loud, and other times I just kind of started singing without realizing it. But I learned that when I am singing His truth---out loud-- it silences the other voices (condemnation, sometimes over analyzation whatever is going on in my head) while speaking His truth to my innermost. I even used a hymn to explain something God was teaching me the other day!
Paul says to:
" Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
When you are singing--out loud-- you have to refocus your brain, your heart. You are making a turn. It is one of the sweetest gifts He has given to take our thoughts captive! When we turn our eyes upon Jesus--- who He is--- the things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
It sounds so simple but it sometimes takes conscious effort people! Other times-- it's just an overflow! When I am singing--- my heart is drawn in to Him and I get to enter what Keller calls "the dance" for that moment, that day. I hope that you too can learn to sing! We can be thankful. Always-- in ever circumstance because we serve a God who does not change, who does not leave, who does not forsake, and who is always good. Yes--even when it doesn't "feel" like it. He who did not spare His own son for you but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?
"What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!
When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down
Beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul. To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb,
Who is the great I AM,
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free
I’ll sing His love for me,
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
And through eternity I’ll sing on."
This was part of a passage in a sweet friends wedding homily this past weekend, and one that I have been thinking of a lot over the past several weeks. I have found myself singing A LOT in recent months.... sorry to those of you who have heard me... joyful noises people. Joyful noises...
Sometimes I'm working, sometimes I'm on a walk, in the car, or getting ready for bed. One day I was thinking about the why---Why has singing hymns or other worship songs been a significant part life lately? Why do I want to make this a habit? Sometimes I've even forced myself to start singing. Yes-- made a conscious effort to sing out loud, and other times I just kind of started singing without realizing it. But I learned that when I am singing His truth---out loud-- it silences the other voices (condemnation, sometimes over analyzation whatever is going on in my head) while speaking His truth to my innermost. I even used a hymn to explain something God was teaching me the other day!
Paul says to:
" Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
When you are singing--out loud-- you have to refocus your brain, your heart. You are making a turn. It is one of the sweetest gifts He has given to take our thoughts captive! When we turn our eyes upon Jesus--- who He is--- the things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
It sounds so simple but it sometimes takes conscious effort people! Other times-- it's just an overflow! When I am singing--- my heart is drawn in to Him and I get to enter what Keller calls "the dance" for that moment, that day. I hope that you too can learn to sing! We can be thankful. Always-- in ever circumstance because we serve a God who does not change, who does not leave, who does not forsake, and who is always good. Yes--even when it doesn't "feel" like it. He who did not spare His own son for you but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?
"What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!
When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down
Beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul. To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb,
Who is the great I AM,
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free
I’ll sing His love for me,
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
And through eternity I’ll sing on."
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