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Sing Anyway!
Jon BurgessHe has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the lord.
Psalm 40:3
The best songs are born out of the worst circumstances. When phrases like "pit of despair" and "mud and mire" describe your life you don't feel like singing. That's exactly when we need to sing! To declare who God is in the midst of despair and to sing of His might when sinking in the mud is to come in the opposite spirit. To worship in the middle of the worst is to refuse to allow our folly to direct our faith! King David would tell himself often in the Psalms "Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name" (Psalm 103:1). He had to tell his soul to do the opposite of what he felt like doing. A new song will rise from the ashes of defeat when we focus on worshipping at His feet no matter what! Worship moves our focus from what we are going through to the One who is going through it with us! Songs get us through and remind us of what's true. One of the last things Moses did to prepare God's people for the Promised Land was have them all learn a song (Deut.31) that would remind them of the covenant with God and what happens when they break it. This song would be on their lips to remind them of what mattered most when life was sweet and they saw no need to follow God. So it's clear from these two examples in today's reading that we need to sing anyway. Life is full of sorrowful things- sing anway and hide in God. Life is full of sweet things- sing anyway and humble yourself in God.
I found out yesterday morning that my Pop has prostate cancer. After talking with him I was in tears and a total mess. The last thing I felt like doing was singing. The problem was that I had scheduled with Scotty & Fred some studio time to record the worship song I had written for Emy in her fight with cancer. She played that song over and over. God used it to get her through the pain of cancer and she asked that I would play it at her memorial service. We figured God might want to use this song to encourage others as well. The timing of God would have it that I would need to sing the very song that helped Emy in her fight with cancer to now help my Dad with his. I didn't feel like singing, but I asked the guys to pray for me and told my soul to sing anway! I sent the initial recording to Pop and he has been listening to it over and over. We all need a song to sing. The song of faith aligns our thinking with the rhythm of His grace and carries us through the darkest place. So, my encouargement to you no matter you're going through- sing anyway. You don't write or play an instrument? Grab a worship CD (New Hope has some great ones), turn it on 11, and sing your heart out to the Lord in the middle of your trial. You don't have a great voice? Sing anyway. God tells us to make a joyful noise unto Him! You are too busy for a worship session? Turn off that news and turn up the tunes and worship God in the middle of your commute. Everything is going great and life is smooth? Sing anyway. Thank God that you have seen His goodness in your life!
Jesus, thank You for the new songs that arise out from the ashes. Thank You for the many songs that brought me through and have brought me back to You over the years. Thank You that my circumstances and situations don't dictate my faith and my emotions and doubts don't determine my focus. Thank You that my song of praise puts fear in its place under Your feet!
