July 20 – Always For Everything

“...addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”   Ephesians 5:19-20 (ESV)

We have assurance in our promise today and we are reminded how our lives can be lived in true worship of God.  Wherever we are at anytime we can participate with the music of our hearts to the Lord. We do not have to wait until we are in a church building or church service.  We are encouraged to be giving thanks always to God for everything.  We have even more than a 24/7 access to God and can approach Him whenever we need or wish to.  Think for a minute of the times you might be busy with one task but in your mind is a favorite song, hymn, or chorus that brings praise of God to your mind.  If we practice that we will find it happening more frequently.  Such a practice, when it is from our hearts brings glory and honor and praise to our Almighty God and He will accept it as true suitable worship.

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January 7 – His Love Quiets

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)

From the writings of the Old Testament prophet Zephaniah we can learn about how God thinks of His people just as was expressed in those days.  God has made us His people through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  We are assured that God is in our midst and we are not alone and  on our own.  We are also assured that God is mighty, He is victorious and He has saved us.  God takes great delight in those of us who love Him and who have trusted Him for their salvation and eternal life.  God is with us to quiet us when we are disturbed by our circumstances and upset and he does this with His lovingkindness.  God loves us and exults over us because of the peace He has brought into our lives.  His presences means so much to us.  Let's embrace this promise.   

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October 7 – Waiting For a New Song

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.  …  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.”  Psalm 40:1, 3 (NIV)

It is Sunday and a time when we worship God with songs and hymns, singing them together where we gather.  But our singing of praises to God can be something we do anytime and anywhere.  Now, it is very likely that the psalmist David had written many of his songs before he wrote this one.  He says here that God put a new song in his mouth and it was a hymn of praise.  God can do that for us as well.  Whatever challenges we are facing we know to wait patiently, God promises to turn to us and hear our cry and He can give us a new song to sing.  No matter how many songs we know we can always receive from God through many means, new or familiar songs of praise to sing.  And the purpose of the songs we sing are so that others will see our faith and our respect the Almighty God.  As our songs demonstrate our trust in his promises, others are drawn by the Holy Spirit to put their trust in Him as well.  Sing your songs of praise to God today, new or familiar - they are all good and pleasing to God. 

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December 22 – Truly From the Heart

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14 (NIV)

There is singing in the air these days. Some of it is for the purpose of praising God for sending His Son to be our Savior. That of course was the motive for the song the angels sang to the Bethlehem shepherds. You've heard these words, probably many times. The angels who sang these words knew that God was doing something wonderful when Jesus was born. They knew that God was showing His love for His human creatures—His love for you and me. Some of the angels had already been sent with messages telling about it beforehand and now Jesus was born. We don't know if the angels understood the full meaning of it but they sang their true praises to God. As we learn more and more of the meaning of God's plans for us, lets be sure that we sing truly from the heart as we sing Christmas songs. 

May 15

“...and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”  Isaiah 35:10 (NIV)

There is such a great contrast between God’s great purpose for His people and the experience of many here in this world. Note the contrast in this verse: gladness and joy compared to sorrow and sighing. Now you can recognize that sorrow and sighing are often a part of the picture here in this word. Even some of us who follow the Lord have experienced these feelings. But then we read what God’s purpose is in dealing with us. He wants us to enjoy the benefits of His purpose – gladness and joy. Let us rejoice in His purpose for us. 

May 10

“The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place.” 2 Chronicles 30:27 (NIV)

Do we as a nation need to pray to God? If we do will it make a difference? Remember what happened on an occasion when a nation turned to God in the days of King Hezekiah. There was much singing and praying during those days of turning back to God and there was much joy and rejoicing. And “God heard them for their prayer reached heaven.” This can be true today if we would pray sincerely in the name of Jesus – our prayers will reach heaven and God will hear and answer.