Friday, June 18, 2010

Singing to Him

Songs: Our God – Chris Tomlin
Knees to the Earth – Watermark

Scriptures: (NIV)
Isaiah 8:10Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us.
Romans 8:31-39 31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

**************************************************
I am really glad the Scriptures encourage us to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord for He is good” – making mention of and putting the focus on the goodness of the Lord, and not what we sound like. When we are told to “sing a new song” or to “sing praises to His Name” it is because of Who God is, because of His character, His nature, His attributes, His holiness, and not because of our skill, talent or ability (or lack thereof.) I have really been convicted and blessed by the boldness of some who sing joyfully with abandon to God, regardless of what may they sound like to anyone else– because after all, they are singing to God and not to or for anyone else. I am so thankful that worship is not just about how well someone can sing, and that we are free to worship our God in many ways to bless His heart.

I don’t think I’ve been in a church choir since I was a child. Even singing in the church congregation these days, I find lately that the words I sing change from what everyone else is singing. I think it’s God, because I don’t think fast enough to change the words and still have what I’m singing be in time with the music. Usually the words are changed such that instead of singing words about God, I’m singing to Him.

The latest example that has been coming up a lot is Our God by Chris Tomlin. The part of the lyrics (the chorus and “the bridge”) that are:

Our God is greater
Our God is stronger
God, You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer
Awesome in power
Our God, Our God

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against?

I find myself singing - and, since it’s God-ward, in a sense praying (in song), affirming -

God, You are greater
God, You are stronger
God, You are higher than any other
God, You are Healer
Awesome in power
O God, Our God

And if You God are for us, then none could ever stop us...
And since You God are with us, then none can stand against!

Hallelujah for the victory we have in Christ Jesus!!!

2 Corinthians 2:14(New American Standard Bible) But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (Amplified Bible)
57But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].



... and my journey with Him continues ...

No comments:

Post a Comment