Today’s scripture: Psalm 69:30 & Psalm 95:2 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Sue Robinson):
Music has always had a big influence on my mood. In high school, I listened to the Beatles and drove my parents crazy. My Dad was furious about these long-haired kids from England, but, as a means of teenage rebellion, I played their music constantly and secretly loved the chaos it caused.
Then there was my country music stage, my hard rock era, the classical music decade, and on and on it went.
But there are other ways to enjoy music and offer it as worship instead of just using it for our own enjoyment. We can offer it as praise to our God.
Our scriptures for today are just two of the many passages that speak of offering thanksgiving to God in song and musical instruments. Psalm 69:30 says, “I will praise His name with song, and I will glorify God with thanksgiving.” The other verse is similar: Psalm 95:2 says, “Let us come before God with thanksgiving and extol God with music and song.”
When we praise God either with singing, musical ability (or lack thereof!), or just listening with a quiet heart, we are placing ourselves in a spirit of thankfulness and worship.
In our discipleship classes, we are encouraged to think of many different ways to commune with God and speed time in fellowship with God’s spirit. One of the highlights of our Sunday worship is the singing of songs and choruses, listening to the various singing groups, the musicians, and the solos. These are all ways to let God know how thankful we are for such abundant love and care.
Thought for the day: Can you offer a musical thanksgiving to God this week? Listen to some upbeat praise music or sing only for God’s ears!
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.