Lift Up Your Voice

Lift Up Your Voice

Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King over all the earth. Praise him with a psalm. Psalm 47:6-7

“He who sings well prays twice,” St. Augustine once wrote. And that isn’t limited to what takes place in a church building or a meeting. Wherever we are, music can quiet our busy minds and connect our hearts with the One who gave us the gift of music and voices to sing. Whether we sing along with a worship CD in our cars on the way to work or sing a hymn in our quiet time, God loves to hear his children sing. He cherishes and delights in praise that comes from the heart. Such a time of just singing, not as a means to an end but to merely enjoy being in his presence, is vital to a life with God. And just as parents delight in their young child’s off-key songs, he hears past our broken chords of harmony, the strained efforts at melody, and the obscure rhythms and rhymes. There is no sound more pleasing to God than the voice of his child singing of his faithful love and marvelous glory. As it resounds throughout his throne room, he hears only the gratitude of the heart, which to him is irresistible. Lift your voice to God in prayer. Use a psalm that’s been set to music or a classic hymn such as “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” Save the words to songs from retreats and conferences you attend. Worship God because he is the perfect, holy, almighty Creator and King of the universe and yet calls you to be intimate with him. You’ll find that singing as a form of worship can become the wind beneath your wings that will carry you through everything life brings.

—CHERI

Lord, I want to be “lost in wonder, love and praise.” I want to delight in you through songs that lift your name and your character high. Give me fresh revelation today, Lord, of who you are. Inspire me so that I will sing of your greatness and glory not only today but forever, for you are the King over all the earth.

When all thy mercies, O my God,

My rising soul surveys,

Transported with the view, I’m lost

In wonder, love and praise.

—JOSEPH ADDISON (1672–1719), ENGLISH ESSAYIST, POET, AND DRAMATIST