Inspirational Message: We Sing Praises to His Name!

By Gladys McElmore

It is extremely important to God through Jesus Christ that we love Him and also love each other (Mark 12:30-31). Singing illustrates unity as we agree on lyrics and chords. Such music can also promote spiritual strength as it binds our hearts profoundly together in peace, proclaims God’s power through praise and also demonstrates God’s glory to the world! Singing God’s praises will never go out of style. In response to the reconciling love Jesus offers us, we can share it easily through various kinds of music.

Music accommodates no borders nor lines to separate ourselves one from another. Many songs remind us that God does not see national or racial distinctions. Thousands can sing our great redeemer’s praises and tell the glories of Him as God and King. Is somebody singing? Children and adults can blend together to praise God. A number of Bible stories have been expressed through music such as explanations of the Israelites waiting for deliverance from Egypt, and prophets waiting for Jesus the Messiah. The undisputed universal language of music may have a profound impact on many people who take comfort in songs and hymns. Do we really need music?

It is music that has embraced all people, soothed our hearts, sustained our hopes and heals our wounds. As God’s people, we sing, sometimes as strangers and pilgrims wherever we live. For we are pilgrims who can sing the songs of Zion in any land! Do our choices bring honor to God? We can ask God to not let our desires for recognition become problems that replace Jesus as the focus of our attention! We must desire more of Him and less of us. We can continue to sing joyfully because the love of God for us is revealed in His letter to us which is the Holy Bible. How is this possible?

We can sing with exuberance! There is a message in every song for our success, our challenges and our rewards. Trusting God’s faithfulness stirs us to sing with great confidence. Plato and Aristotle wrote about the healing power of music years ago. The biblical record is saturated with music. The Psalms, often called the Bible’s songbook, point us to the love and faithfulness of God. The Psalms conclude with an unending call to worship, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6).

Today we need songs and we really need God’s ministry of music in our hearts as much as any time in history. Whatever each day brings may find us singing , “To you, O My God of Mercy” (Psalm 59:17). Let us ask God to give us a spirit of praise and thanksgiving for all help that lies ahead. Counting our blessings makes it easy to praise God! Recalling the Lord’s faithfulness in days past supports our confidence in Him today through musical creations. Let us continue to sing praises to God because of what Jesus has done to secure our salvation. While we continue to sing, our faith cannot be overthrown for Christ the Rock is our sure hope!

Mrs. Gladys R. McElmore, a resident of Norfolk’s Middle Town Arch Community, is a New Journal and Guide Freelance Contributor on religion. She is a native of Essex County, Va.