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Come Home to God’s Celebration
By Rick Warren

“Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him … his name is the LORD.” (Psalm 68:4 ESV)

Do you want to get back to God? You first have to get fed up, then own up to your sin, and then offer up your life in sacrifice. Finally, you celebrate.

In the story of the prodigal son, it’s important to notice the father’s response: “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him …. The father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate’” (Luke 15:20a, 22 NIV).

The prodigal’s father is like your heavenly father. No matter what you’ve done, when you come home to God, he wraps you in his love. He gives you his best and says, “All is forgiven! Go get the robe. Go get the shoes. Let’s have a feast! My child has returned to me.”

You come home to celebration, not condemnation. And God wants you to join him in celebration as you give him your praise.

You celebrate your transformation by simply saying, “Thank you, God. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your goodness. I lift up my praise!”

The Bible says in Psalm 68:4, “Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him … his name is the LORD” (ESV).

For your own transformation, you need to start singing at church. You need to celebrate what God has done in your life and thank him through song. Some of you might call yourself “prison singers” — you’re always behind a few bars and you never have the right key!

But the Bible doesn’t say to make your singing pretty; it says make it joyful. You can do that! Anybody can make a joyful noise.

Sing your praise to God — not just for who he is but also for the transformation he’s made in your life!

Talk It Over

Based on your experience with your earthly father, what do you expect of God when you mess up?

What keeps you from expressing your praise to God through singing?

What does it mean to make a joyful noise?