Your Spiritual Journey
Singing Praises
SINGING PRAISES
As Christians, our basic mandate is to love and obey God. One of the ways we are instructed to obey God is to worship Him. We do this in a number of ways. From Bible study and sermons at the church building to following Jesus’ example and doing good deeds in our daily lives and so on. Another way we can worship God is through our singing. I love hearing all the voices blending together on Sunday morning, especially that “songbird” voice you hear in the crowd. It’s always a comforting sound to me. Now, I can’t read music, nor (according to everyone I know) can I carry a tune in a ten-gallon bucket with a lid on it, but I try to harmonize with the voices I hear when I know a song and try to listen and learn when I don’t know it. Frankly, I’ll never be a contestant on American Idol, but that’s okay by me. I know that God blessed me with other talents, and I get to enjoy those who were blessed with the talent for singing.
David certainly knew the importance of singing praises. In 1 Chronicles 16, he tells the Levite priests that we are to sing praises to proclaim God’s name and to tell of the great things He has done for us and to seek His face. We are to remember what God has done for us – from creation to sending His son to be that one way, the narrow road that leads to life (Matthew 7:14).
Psalms tells us in several places that we to shout for joy to the Lord. God doesn’t expect us to sound like a professional singer. He simply wants us to sing from the heart – to truly feel and mean the words we are singing. You can also sing praises to God by yourself, in your car, in the shower, in small groups, anywhere and at anytime. When you sing praises to God, remember to sing from the heart and don’t worry so much about how you sound.
James Passmore
