For as long as I can remember I have enjoyed music. My mother played both the piano and the organ. I have many fond memories of my mom playing the organ for church or playing the piano for Sunday School. I took piano lessons as a kid and in school I played the flute in band. Music just has a way of making your soul sing. Music helps to give release to deep emotions within you. Psalm 95:1-2 says, “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.” Both hymns of faith and praise songs are wonderful ways to joyfully, thankfully, and prayerfully worship God.
A couple of weeks ago on a Sunday evening I went to church with our son Steve and his family. The sermon was on God’s love for us. The service ended with the singing of, My Jesus, I Love Thee. What a beautiful worship song of praise to our God.
“My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine. For Thee all the follies of sin I resign. My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou; If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.”
“I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me and purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree. I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow; If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.”
“I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death, And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath; And say, when the death-dew lies cold on my brow: If every I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.”
When we came to the last verse, the power of the organ along with the words of the song, stirred such a sense of awe and praise to God for the truths found in this song. “In mansions of glory and endless delight, I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright; I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow: If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus ’tis now.” As we sang this song I lifted my hands to God in praise for who He is and what He has done for me. What a God we serve!
Even though this experience was a couple of weeks ago. I find myself singing this song as I am going through my day.
I have sat at the piano numerous times to play and sing this song to God. I find as I am reflecting on this hymn, prayers of praise rise up from inside of me and His peace and joy fill me to overflowing.
When the songs we sing are focused on God we worship Him.
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Psalm 100. Thanks be to God!
