Sing to the LORD

Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD all the earth.

Sing to the LORD, bless His name.      Psalm 96:1

In the midst of situations trying, when I fight to keep my heart off the floor, here are words, challenging.

Sing. Sing! Celebrate in song.

Martin Luther once wrote these words, "When I cannot pray, I always sing. "

When I have no words left, when the ache is too great, sing. How often I have done that very thing.

In my car, I carry an index card file, held together by a broken spiral ring. It is filled with my favorite praise songs. On the cover I printed the words: Survival Manuel. Truly, that has been what it has done. Helped me survive. Praising my Lord, has enabled me to endure, persevere. It fixes my eyes on my only source of hope: Jesus.

I have long had this habit of making melody in my heart, intoning words of praise. What challenged me this week, is the phrase "a new song."

A new song?

Obviously, this particular tune is aimed at praising God. So what is new? How can worshipping God be different? And what was the old song? I had to ponder that.

I found the answer, for me, anyway, in 2 Corinthians 5:7 NLT. "For we live by believing and not by seeing. "

I needed to believe that the words I sang, were true. Not simply cantillate by rote, desperately hoping God would be good today. Waiting until I see it with my own eyes. Nope. I needed to adopt the attitude of, "I don't see it.......Yet. " It's kind of like when my chickens laid an egg. I was convinced there was a chick inside. I knew it, believed it. It was only a matter of time before that chick hatched. It wasn't "if", it was "when." I didn't have to see the chick to know it was there. It simply hadn't arrived...yet.

For me, to utter sweet sounds in a novel way, meant I needed to sing in faith. To know in my heart that He is wise, even though I don't see that currently. It is to be convinced that He is sovereign. And good. And a present help. Even if I felt none of those things. They simply hadn't arrived....yet.

My attitude has been transformed from wishful thinking to knowing He will show Himself faithful, at the right time and in His own way. He will.

That knowledge has enabled me to join the psalmist in celebrating the LORD and to affectionately praise Him in a fresh way.

I don't know how, LORD, or even when, but I know You will be good. I don't know how or when, LORD, but I know You will comfort. You will be my help. You will be my strength. You will!

You. Will.

Hallelujah!