On Father’s Day, I skipped church to go fishing with my husband. While feeling incredibly guilty about not attending the local worship service, the musical chirps of the birds reminded me of a much larger worship service. That all of creation worships His name. So while I worshiped the Lord quietly in solitude. The lapping of the waves, swaying of the reeds, and the shrieking of the circling hawk reminded me how beautiful is a musical life.
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5: 19 – 20 NIV
Singing is Worship
If you believe Jesus sacrificed his life to save you from your sin, was resurrected on the third day, and now lives at the right hand of God the Father; then Christ gives you joy.
I (Jesus) have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete (John 15:11 NIV).
Singing is “making melody with our heart,” it is the “echo back the glad tidings of God’s love (Adeney).
Singing is Sacred
We use words to communicate what we are thinking, but we use songs to communicate our feelings. “Singing is the natural language of the heart (N. Emmons).”
Music cheers us up when we are sad, exhilarates our spirits at sporting events, and inspires soldiers with the “spirit of courage, fortitude, and patriotism (Emmons).”
When we direct our holy affection of our inner being towards God through song, our music is sacred. That may be hard to believe since we do not all have the lovely notes of a nightingale, but a loving father cherishes his children’s’ voices. After all He created us all, some with deep baritone and some to hit the high notes.
Singing in the Bible
God created nature to sing. Every morning the world is wakened by song birds and on warm summer nights the whippoorwill says goodnight. Nature itself sings in the bubbling brooks, ocean waves crashing on the beach, as well as the night sounds of insects.
David sang to the Lord while in the desert.
I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High Psalm 7: 17 NIV.
Make a joyful noise to the LORD,
all the earth.
Serve the LORD with gladness;
come into His presence with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and bless His name.
For the LORD is good,
and His loving devotion endures forever;
His faithfulness continues to all generations.
Psalm 100 Berean Study Bible
The Angels sang after telling the shepherds where to find baby Jesus, “Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God. (Luke 2:14 CEV).”
Heaven sings with music of Moses and the Lamb:
“Great and wonderful are Your works,
O Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the nations!
Who will not fear You,
O Lord,
and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before You,
for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Revelation 15: 3 BSB
How to make melody in your heart
- Consider what words you actually sing instead of just singing stanzas that have no meaning.
- Sing with affection directed towards God.
- Sing with joy that comes from Christ.
- Sing with Faith that God’s promises are true.
- Ask God this his word that we sing will cleanse our inner being.
- Sing to Praise his name and give thanks for all our blessings
- Sing when suffering
Sing when Suffering?
At the last Supper Jesus sang hymns with his disciples which prepared all of them for the trials that lay ahead of them. Paul and Silas after being beaten with rods from the Roman soldiers chose to sing. They turned a dungeon into a chapel.
When we choose to sing songs of praise during our suffering, our hearts are being transformed from a dark cold prison into a heavenly dwelling where the Holy Spirit dwells.
On Z88.3 radio, I heard a story about a woman who had been captured by Indians. They bound her with ropes and set fire to her. She responded by singing. Her husband heard her singing and was able to follow her voice through the forest. He saved her because, she sung in the face of danger.
The Lord hears our songs of praise, thanksgiving, and especially the ones we sing during times of suffering.
May I Pray for You With a Psalm?
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in times of trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth is transformed
and the mountains are toppled
into the depths of the seas,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake in the surge.
There is a river whose streams delight the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her; she will not be moved.
God will help her when morning dawns.
Nations rage, kingdoms crumble;
the earth melts when He lifts His voice.
The LORD of Hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come, see the works of the LORD,
who brings devastation upon the earth.
He makes wars to cease throughout the earth;
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
He burns the shields in the fire.
“Be still and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted over the earth.”
The LORD of Hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46 BSB
May I offer you a gift?
I’m a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. I’m married to a firefighter, am a mother of two college age sons and one lovable rescue pup. My new day job is as an Instructional Designer but my background is teaching Elementary school. I love learning and I love sharing things I learn with my friends.
So, I’m looking for online friends to grow spiritually alongside me. As my online friend, I spend time praying for you everyday. My goal is to specifically design encouraging gifts to help you know deep in your soul just how dearly loved by Jesus you are.
If you would like a free digital image of “In You Lord, I Put My Trust, click the link to join my email list.
Every week you will receive a new image to encourage you!
- Feel free to comment on this blog about how songs have influenced your life.
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References:
Adeney W.F. Christian Worship. [sermon]
Emmons, N. Sacred Music. [sermon]
Abide in Christ's Love 
Amen! Beautiful and comforting message from the words of Christ. Blessings to you sis! Keep up the work for the Lord! 🙂
Thank you Tammy for your kind and encouraging remarks. I’m so thankful you have a beautiful melody in your heart! Have a blessed week!
Bless God! You’re most welcome. All glory to the King forever. 🙂 You too dear.
Thank you for writing on this subject! Music has been such a powerfull force in my life and in my faith! Never had a day gone by that I have not taken the time to listen to some music. I believe it is not only a means of worship but a tremendous gift from God.
You are very welcome Robert. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Yes, Music is a tremendous gift from God, It stirs our souls , provides healing, and praises the Lord all at the same time!