Let Us Sing

Do I hear singing?
In a prison cell?
“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them …” (Acts 16:25)
This week, we’ve been spending some time with Paul and Silas in a rather distressing situation – as they sit in a cold dark cell uncertain of what the next day might offer. We have thought together about what they might have been praying. However, these hurting prisoners were not only praying, they were also singing hymns to God.
These hymns, of course, were not any of our familiar hymns – but I think we can imagine the flavor of the hymns they were singing. They were singing TO God – they were actually worshipping – no doubt praising God for His goodness, His faithfulness! They weren’t singing some of those country music songs that sound more like lamentations – bemoaning the unfairness of life. They were singing praises to God!
Music may not be your “go to” when life presents you with awful stuff, but you might want to consider it! I love music – I wake up singing a song to myself (often some praise song we sang the previous Sunday). When I need an extra boost of energy to accomplish some mundane household task, I turn on oldies music full blast and soon find myself smiling as I tackle my chore. When I need to redirect my focus upward, I turn on Christian music and sing along.
I looked up some of the benefits of singing – just because I’m a curious sort of person – and found an article that listed twenty-one! Among them were: improves your posture, helps with sleep, lowers stress levels, improves mental alertness, enhances mood, energizes, stimulates creativity – all rather convincing reasons for adding singing to your daily routine!
But perhaps the most important benefit of singing praises TO God – actually directing our singing God-ward – may be that it adjusts our focus from our problem to our Problem-Solver, from our sense of being wronged to the One who will make all things right, from our hopeless situation to our Hope-Giver.
The situation was indeed horrible for Paul and Silas, and their future was uncertain. Yet they sang. Let us do the same. Will you take a moment and focus on the faithfulness of our God by lifting up to Him this chorus from an old hymn by B.B. McKinney:
“Have faith in God, He’s on His throne;
Have faith in God, He watches o’er His own;
He cannot fail, He must prevail;
Have faith in God, have faith in God.”
By Judy Shrout
In a prison cell?
“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them …” (Acts 16:25)
This week, we’ve been spending some time with Paul and Silas in a rather distressing situation – as they sit in a cold dark cell uncertain of what the next day might offer. We have thought together about what they might have been praying. However, these hurting prisoners were not only praying, they were also singing hymns to God.
These hymns, of course, were not any of our familiar hymns – but I think we can imagine the flavor of the hymns they were singing. They were singing TO God – they were actually worshipping – no doubt praising God for His goodness, His faithfulness! They weren’t singing some of those country music songs that sound more like lamentations – bemoaning the unfairness of life. They were singing praises to God!
Music may not be your “go to” when life presents you with awful stuff, but you might want to consider it! I love music – I wake up singing a song to myself (often some praise song we sang the previous Sunday). When I need an extra boost of energy to accomplish some mundane household task, I turn on oldies music full blast and soon find myself smiling as I tackle my chore. When I need to redirect my focus upward, I turn on Christian music and sing along.
I looked up some of the benefits of singing – just because I’m a curious sort of person – and found an article that listed twenty-one! Among them were: improves your posture, helps with sleep, lowers stress levels, improves mental alertness, enhances mood, energizes, stimulates creativity – all rather convincing reasons for adding singing to your daily routine!
But perhaps the most important benefit of singing praises TO God – actually directing our singing God-ward – may be that it adjusts our focus from our problem to our Problem-Solver, from our sense of being wronged to the One who will make all things right, from our hopeless situation to our Hope-Giver.
The situation was indeed horrible for Paul and Silas, and their future was uncertain. Yet they sang. Let us do the same. Will you take a moment and focus on the faithfulness of our God by lifting up to Him this chorus from an old hymn by B.B. McKinney:
“Have faith in God, He’s on His throne;
Have faith in God, He watches o’er His own;
He cannot fail, He must prevail;
Have faith in God, have faith in God.”
By Judy Shrout
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2021
January
New BeginningsBe a LightPraying for the Gospel to AdvancePraying for Church LeadershipPraying for RestorationPraying for the Persecuted ChurchPraying for Our NationBridging the GapJesus UnderstandsYour Spiritual TankMade to WorshipProtection and WisdomDeliver Us From TemptationWholly Following the LordDistinguishing Characteristics of a True Disciple of ChristLoving Others as God Loves UsOvercoming Resistance to the GospelHow to Love Your EnemiesWinning Influence with Reciprocating LoveF-O-C-U-SA Job RejectionRejected by Your FamilyRejected by Church PeopleRejected for Your ViewpointThe Most Dangerous Rejection of AllWhat Are You Seeing?
February
112 YearsJesus Is Followed - Beth's StoryJesus Is Followed - Bryce's StoryJesus Is Followed - Jeff's StoryJesus Is Followed - Lily's StoryJesus Is Followed - Sarah's StoryClean SlateTake. Your MatHe Ain't HeavyFind Another WayPick Up And GoIt's Not About This LifeMan's Rules & God's LawLord of the SabbathTo Do Good or HarmWithered-Hand FaithGrace and TruthLooking for the RootsThe Wandering PathA Powerful ForceFinally!Do You See Them?Is Your Faith Enough?Ebony and Ivory
March
The Price You Pay for Free GraceThe Most Important Question of AllThe Nature of Saving FaithThe Way Down is The Way UpThe Effect of Shame on SinnersLet's Memorize Scripture!Extra CreditA Mailbox FriendBeing a NoticerInterruptionsThe Other GuysName Above All NamesCelebrateFilled to OverflowingCliffhangerTwo Dead EndsThe FeastGod's GoodnessOne Great ParableA Tale for All SinnersTwo Prayers, One JustificationGrace and HumilityCome to JesusWhat To Do?What is Worship?The Stones Would Cry OutJoyful Noise
April
The Lifting of HandsWorship Your WayGod Is The WindThe Trap of Human WisdomThe Danger of ComplacencyThe Quest for Meaning Apart from GodThe Futility of Living for the MomentThe Illusion of Self-righteousnessHe Is Risen!Lightning BugsIf?Pure WorshipStanding in LineI Surrender...Releasing ControlReplacementsA Worthy Substitute
2020
March
I Am The Good Shepherd Shepherd LeadershipI Am the Good Shepherd that Keeps the GateShepherding the TeamI Am The Good Shepherd: A Note from a Thankful SheepTime OutFour DaysUp from the GraveResurrection LifeThe Shadow of DeathMore Than an Empty TombLet\'s Not Get DistractedThis Is No Time to Be TroubledJesus Christ Is The Way
April
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May
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June
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July
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August
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September
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