“Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens,” expressed Maria Von Trapp of the Von Trapp Family Singers.
Have you noticed how music can soothe or motivate when the right tune strikes your ears in a particular situation? Even merchants choose background music while customers shop or dine in order to create a mood for lingering or hastening, making thoughtful or quick decisions.
Do you have certain songs that you like to listen to depending on your mood or to get you in a certain frame of mind? Going a little deeper, have you found that as you grow in your faith, you are more attuned to songs’ lyrics? Catchy tunes and phrases tend to stay in our head for years. (Cue the TV jingles from childhood!)
What a great way to keep God’s truths in our minds! In fact, each week of Keep on Track has a song – hymn or contemporary – that relates to the verse’s theme. Have you thought of making a playlist with these to help you remember the verses when you hear those songs?
God desires to be honored with songs praising him for his holiness, faithfulness, and mercy. He is worthy! When David became king of the Israelites, he had the Ark of the Covenant carried to Jerusalem. Then, sacrifices were made, followed by thanksgiving and praises proclaimed to their great God. Voices with instruments were in use to offer David’s psalm of thanks, which in part was: “Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice” (1 Chronicles 16:9-10).
Can we even comprehend the sight of multitudes of angels praising God in the skies to announce Jesus’ birth? Can we even grasp the glory of worshiping King Jesus forever? For now, God gives us the privilege of joining other believers to sing God’s truths, exalting him in honor and gratitude. Are you connected to other Christ followers in a church setting? (Remember that many persecuted believers wish they had the ease of gathering to worship.) The apostle Paul sent, from prison, a letter encouraging the body of believers to “be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:18b-19 ESV).
So open your heart and, as Psalm 33:1 (NIV) proclaims, “Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.”
This week, why not choose a song of worship for your personal time praising the Lord and then enjoy worshiping with other believers on Sunday?