Time to Sing
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY...Ā “You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!”Ā Psalm 30:11,12 NLTĀ “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 40:3 NIV
Sometime I feel like a spiritual “Forest Gump.” Forest used to say, “I’m not a smart man, but I know what love is.” There are times when I want to say, “I’m not smart man, but I know when the Lord is trying to get my attention.”
That is what happened today. This morning Debbie and I attended the “Traditions” service at Timberline Church. It has been a long time since we have made it to an 8:30 a.m. service and longer since we have slipped into this service with more traditional music. I took note of the theme of two songs that were sung.
One was a Gaither song entitled, “This is the Time I Must Sing.” One of the verses contains these words,
“There are days filled with sorrow and plans for tomorrow,
But this is the time I must sing.
And I know thereās a reason why in His own season
God gives me a song I can sing.”
After this, we sang the old gospel song, “He Keeps Me Singing.” You may recall the words
Thereās within my heart a melody
Jesus whispers sweet and low,
Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still,
In all of lifeās ebb and flow.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Sweetest Name I know,
Fills my every longing,
Keeps me singing as I go.
This song by Luther Bridgers, of Atlanta, Georgia; was written in 1901 after a tragic fire killed his wife and three sons.
I then went to Morning Star Assisted Living to conduct a chapel service. I decided we should sing the old anthem “Fairest Lord Jesus.” As we sang the song, I noticed the words, that say,
“Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.”
It is easy to sing when all is going well, when we are rejoicing and happy. But singing when there is a struggle, or discouraging news or when life’s “ebb and flow” is over rocky terrain and is more ebb than flow? God’s people asked their captures who wanted to hear songs from Zion, “How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?” (Psalms 137:4 NIV)
But then we look in the Book of Acts and find Saul and Silas arrested, beaten and sitting in a dark musty dungeon. What do they do? They begin to sing songs at midnight and praise the Lord. In the midst of their singing and praise the Lord brings a earthquake that sets them free.Ā (Acts 16:16-40)
Perhaps that is why the writer of Hebrews, who addresses God’s people in times of distress and trial says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise–the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” (Hebrews 13:15 NIV) At times our song requires “sacrifice” to sing. We don’t go by feeling, but by faith.
I am reminded that there were songs that became a continual source of encouragement during my health crisis. Songs that encourage my family to continually trust and be assured that “God is with us.” Just this afternoon as Debbie and I returned from some errands one of those songs was being played in the radio.
This week my Neurologist told me that “I shouldn’t anticipate recovery greater than what I have already experienced.” Although he did clarify that it is “better to be pessimistic rather than optimistic so you won’t be disappointed or discouraged.” However, I found that perspective somewhat disappointing and discouraging!
So when I was unexpectedly confronted by songs that challenged singing and praise, even in the mist of the trials and discouragements of life, I felt like the Lord was trying to get my attention. Not only that, as I sat in the coffee area at church later in the morning, I was surprised to have my infectious disease doctor come over and greet me. I haven’t seen him for almost two years. He still recognized me and remembered me and spoke encouraging words.
Prayer for today…Ā “Lord thank you for Your love that uses the unexpected to get my attention. Thank you that when I keep my eyes on You, I can continue to sing and praise regardless of the circumstances of life. Help me to remember that each challenge, each trial, each struggle is a time to sing.”