The Urgency of Slowing DownSample

My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever. —Psalm 145:21

I love Jesus. I am beyond grateful for what He’s done, how He’s rescued me, how He changed my entire life trajectory and continues to flood me with love and grace I don’t deserve. And yet no matter how big a part of my life my faith is, there is something powerful about singing to Jesus that undoes me. And I can’t carry a tune.

It’s not that I don’t know the truths I’m singing. There’s nothing surprising in the lyrics. But it is the intentionality, the pause, the stopping of everything else simply to sit at my King’s feet and adore Him. When we sing that we’re here to worship Jesus, that He is our Lord, that He is great, that He is holy, we aren’t just taking in the information—we’re declaring it. We’re using our minds and our bodies to encounter Jesus. We’re immersing ourselves in these truths. Claiming them out loud. Solidifying them in our hearts.

The Psalms repeatedly invite us to use our mouths to sing praise to God, and God’s people throughout the ages have modeled this for us. Deborah and Barak sang a song of victory over their enemies. Paul and Silas sang in prison. At the Last Supper, Jesus sang a hymn.

Jesus sang worship songs. Of course! Jesus knew singing to the Lord was good. And Jesus modeled this kind of worship, this singing worship, for us.

Science is catching up. Several studies show that singing together directly impacts endorphins and other neurochemicals in the brain, reducing pain, increasing productivity, improving mood, reducing stress, and making people feel more connected.

Have you felt this? You’re at an unfamiliar church. Then the musicians go into a worship song you know, and your shoulders relax. Instead of feeling out of place, you feel more comfortable because you found God in the music, and when you’re with Him, you’re always at home. Or you hear an old hymn you haven’t thought of in ages and start singing along. Or you walk into the sanctuary frazzled, running late, but as you slide into a seat, the music finds a way through your stress and distraction and points you back to God and how much He loves you.

Music is powerful. Music focused on Jesus is even more powerful. And when we take part in it, we step away from stress and self-consciousness and toward grace and light and belonging.

God put music within our hearts and souls as a way to commune with Him. Are we tapping into this amazing gift?

Worship music can be old-fashioned hymns on a pipe organ or modern hymns or worship tunes played on an electric guitar. You can “sing to the LORD a new song” by attending a worship event, going to Sunday service, playing piano and singing as your fingers move across the keys, or singing along to worship songs while you cook dinner, mow the grass, or make your morning commute. How will you make a joyful noise to the Lord today?

Reflection:

Do you sing to the Lord?

This week try playing a worship song or hymn on your phone or on an instrument, writing a song of your own, singing along to the radio, asking Alexa to “play worship music,” finding a YouTube video of a worship service and singing or praying or dancing along, or maybe even hosting or attending a worship event with others and declaring the goodness of God.

*This devotion is taken from Laura L. Smith’s book The Urgency of Slowing Down: Biblical Wisdom for Everyday Renewal.