Do you ever hear certain music and immediately get transformed to another time or place where you’ve heard the song before? Whenever I hear “Til There Was You” from Music Man I remember the first dance with my husband at our wedding (yes I know I’m dating myself). Or the special song from my son’s or daughter’s wedding. Or lullabies I used to sing to them when they were babies. When I hear certain old hymns I am reminded of my parents or grandparents singing them in church. Songs that were popular when I was in high school or college take me right back to those days. I am brought closer to the person or place I think of when I hear the song. I get that warm, fuzzy feeling (or painful feeling if it’s a song from a hard time in my life).
Music is powerful. It can elicit not just a mental response but a heart response. God is so cool to put that connection there – between music and our hearts! So when I began this blog, one of the parts I decided to include in every post was a song. Not just any song, but one that communicates the message of the post.
There are times when my heart is so full of joy I want to praise God. There are times when my heart feels so empty I want to cry out to God for comfort. Music is a vehicle that connects our hearts with the Holy Spirit and speaks to the One who saves, heals, delivers, and redeems us. David knew this, and he sang often to the Lord in all types of situations. Here is part of a song he sang while hiding in a cave, fearing for his life, hoping to evade capture by Saul. His circumstances were dire, but he still sang praises to God.
My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises! Wake up, my heart! Wake up, O lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song. I will thank you, Lord, among all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations. For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth. Psalm 57:7-11 NLT
We even read in the New Testament how Paul sang praises to God in prison!
‘Now about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; ‘ Acts 16:25
There are so many wonderful praise and worship songs out there from believers who are vessels for God’s poetry. Some musicians are blessed with God’s gift for ushering us into a worshipful posture. Chris Tomlin is one of these musicians. The song for this post is “How Can I Keep From Singing”. For those who appreciate Celtic music, there is another song by the same name that is amazing. You’ll find that one here. Part of the lyrics of that song are:
No storm can shake my inmost calm, while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since Christ is Lord of Heaven and Earth, how can I keep from singing?
Whenever you read a J2G article, I encourage you to click on the video at the end, which will reinforce the message of each post. I also encourage you to check out the Music Resources page.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. Psalm 73:23
