I have a terrible singing voice. It was confirmed to me in the School Choir when my friend seated next to me suggested that I mime. Yes, my “friend” and I have not forgotten!
I don’t quite hit the notes right, but I sure make a joyful noise!
I don’t quite hit the notes right, but I sure make a joyful noise and I do enjoy it. I’m very thankful for the band that plays at church to cover the notes I don’t quite … nail.
But singing in church isn’t about the operatic abilities of the congregation (I’m grateful to say). It’s simply about us expressing our love for God and bringing the great truths of the Bible into our hearts and minds. And there is great value in those things.
I was recently able to secure tickets to a national soccer match and, as is the custom, we were all invited to stand for the National Anthem. But I can’t think of many other places where corporate singing happens. There’s school, there’s concerts (a bit), and there’s sporting events. This makes singing at church very special.
We are called to sing to the Lord in many passages of the Bible:
Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. (Ps 96:1-2)
Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. (Is 12:5)
[Address] one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart (Eph 5:19)
One song I love to sing (well, joyfully make a noise as other people are singing) is “What Love, my God” by CityAlight. I find myself feeling particularly reflective and thankful as I sing these words with sisters and brothers from my Church:
What love my God would send the Way of Life
To walk the road, rejected and despised
That You might know the weakness I possess
And be my rock of strength and righteousness.
O Your love my God like a flood
As heaven opened up pouring out on us
O praise the King who came to the world
In His love like a mighty flood.
This song is not about a tiny amount of love—love dolled out depending on the “good” that we might have done in any week; or based on how “together” we appear on the day. It is like a flood. I live in Brisbane and know firsthand that floods are full on, intense and all-consuming—not something to be considered lightly. This is deep, thick, dependable love. In God we have a rock of strength and righteousness who knows our every weakness and sin: Yep, even that one you just thought about.
This is the line that really makes me smile inwardly and pause while I am singing along
What love my God, so gracious and extreme
Was strong enough to come and fight for me.
There can be times that I do not feel ready to fight the battle as a Christian. But I have a God who is so gracious and extreme that he came to fight for me. The battle has been won. There is so much to be thankful for. His strength is incredibly reliable and steadfast.
The battle has been won. There is so much to be thankful for.
Some Sundays I just sink down thankfully onto the chairs at church and breathe a sigh of relief that, despite everything, we have made it through another week and managed to get to church. Phew! All the stuff that happened is behind us and now we are ready to hear God speak and be encouraged by other Christians.
So when we sing together, I am reminded of what it will be like in Heaven singing praises to God in his presence for all eternity. He’s not remotely worried about how we sing, or when we sing, He just enjoys that we do.
Be encouraged to go to Church and when you sing, sing from a place of great thankfulness, and wonder that the God of the Heavens loves you just the way you are and hears you.
May all praise be to our King!
