July 2018

low Jesus, we aligned ourselves
with that power who created the
depth of the earth and the height
of all mountains. His hands
alone formed the seas and the
dry land.
When we sing, if we remind ourselves
of the greatness of God,
we have sung aright. We have
put the spotlight where it belongs.
In so doing, we strengthen
our hearts and spirits and
elevate ourselves. When we
sing, we dispel our doubts and
subdue the enemy of our souls.
When the truth of God is carried
on varied cadences of tone
and melody, it makes our heart
glad. The New York Times reported
one of the most popular
classes at Yale is the happiness
class. Dr. Santos, the instructor
says, “Students want to change,
to be happier themselves, and
to change the culture here on
campus” (01/26/18). If they only
knew something about the depth
of the goodness of God, this
class would not be necessary.
When we sing in worship, we
quench our soul’s thirst by drinking
from a well that never runs
dry. In song, we pray and praise
preparing ourselves for the work
God has called us to do.
“Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the
LORD our Maker; for he is our
God and we are the people of
his pasture, the flock under his
care.” (NIV).
When we sing aright, we take
our proper position, we live a
life of humility, “let us kneel” in
our attitudes, our behavior, our
choices, our conversations, we
kneel before our Creator, there
is none like him. Correct singing
brings us before the altar in
a posture of humility because
He allows us in. He has given
us a seat at his table. He has
made us “heirs and joint heirs
with Christ” (Romans 8:17). We
have not be included among the
redeemed because of our work
but because of his work.
When we sing appropriately to
God we acknowledge his work
as one of perfection and completion.
In humility, we accept
the gift that gives and gives, so
we must remain thankful.
The Apostle Paul acknowledges
the believer’s need to get away
from the pressures of life and
find ways to numb pain and relish
life, and he tells the church
at Ephesus how to pursue that
need: “Do not get drunk with
wine. . . instead be filled with
the Spirit. 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” (6:19 NIV).
Why do we sing? It is the best
alternative to achieving a “high,”
reminding ourselves who God is.
Only then can we know who we
are—his people, created by him,
owing all that we are and hope to
be to him which will cause us to
experience a deeper happiness
than a drug can provide.
Regardless of the circumstances
in which we find ourselves
in life, we have something to
sing about because our song is
not dependent on us or those
around us. It is dependent on the
God who made us. It is no wonder
African Americans resorted
to song to find ways to elevate
their minds and spirits by asking
“Didn’t my God deliver Daniel?”
They reminded themselves He
can deliver them too. By focusing
on the magnitude of who
God is, his character and acts
of love, we encourage ourselves
and increase our faith.
We sing “Fill my cup, Lord,” but
in truth, he has made it possible
for us to fill our own cup. He has
dug the well and provided the
water. Singing provides a dual
benefit: it quenches a spiritual
thirst for both the singer and the
listener.
Three years ago, I joined my
church choir. Before that, I had
not sung in a choir since high
school, decades earlier. I knew
I could read music and add to
the volume of voices. I am by
no means the cherished voice
of the choir. Nonetheless during
practice at home or at rehearsals,
I prepare to do work as unto
God. I took instruction in how to
breath properly and how to listen
for the alto part of songs and
practiced daily.
Once I don the robe and find my
place in the choir loft, I become
part of the ministerial staff—in
my mind. I am assisting in preparing
the congregation to hear
a word from the pastor, by sharing
a word in song. I sing the
gospel to whomever is there
seeking a word from the Lord. A
worship so is a sermon, a prayer
and word of encouragement for
myself and the congregation.
I thank God for the electrifying
8 www.faithfilledfamily.com July 2018