“I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.”
Psalms 89:1
Music is a hobby and passion of mine. There isn’t a day when I don’t listen to music. I listen to all types, and for different reasons and in different circumstances. And I often share the music that encourages or motivates me with the people in my life.
I believe music is a gift from God to man – to provide us a way to worship God and encourage each other in our lives and faith.
Obviously not all music is edifying and we’ll leave that distinction for another study.
As we all know, a catchy tune and the words of a song can get into your head. I wish I could explain exactly how it works, but some music hits me right between my spiritual eyes, in a wonderful testimony to the power of words of love:
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-20 NIV
I would like to share a few lyrics and songs with you, which you should also be able to find on any streaming platform:
“Don’t know what He’s gonna do
But I know it’s gonna work out for you
So go ahead cry, let it all out
Cry your last tear, it’s gonna be alright
Cry your last tear, it’s gonna be alright”
Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr. “Cry Your Last Tear”
”And Jesus, wash away my burdens
For they are so hard to bear
But I know there’s consolation
As long as I know you’re there
yes it is.”
Sam Cooke & The Soul Stirrers “Jesus Wash Away My Troubles”
”I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay
I will sing, sing a new song”
U2 “40” (yes this is Psalm 40, which U2 put to music)
Maybe music resonates with us because, sometimes, it can be hard to put into words what we’re feeling and we find that someone else has done it beautifully. And because it does that for us we want to tell someone about it, maybe they will have the same experience.
Today meditate on the words of love from others that have encouraged you and pray for opportunities to share those words with the other people in your life. It could be a song, a poem or a passage from something you were reading. It could be something that someone wrote or said to you directly.
What were those words of love and who could you share them with as an encouragement?
