a new song;
sing to the LORD,
praise His name."
(Psalm 96:1)
Happy New Year, precious friends! It is a fresh new year, and a fresh new day. Let your very first thought this morning be this: the Lord loves you! HE loves you! He LOVES you! He loves YOU!
And, it is "because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning ..." (Lamentations 3:22-23; see also Psalm 30:5, Isaiah 33:2). Beloved, before you write one resolution or set a single goal for this new year, resolve this: do not live another minute without making Him the priority of your life. "For I resolved to know nothing ... except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2).
Know that He loves you. Know that He died for you and that He still would have died for you ... even if you were the only person on earth! And live in the light of that love. Love Him in return. And praise Him; oh, praise Him!
I love to sing, but I've never sung well. I have spoken before large crowds since I was young with no anxiety at all, but singing is a different matter. I was so unsure of my voice, that I even mouthed our hymns of praise during church worship services. Singing (at least in public!) was never more than a soft whisper. There is little that I fear, but singing in public was one thought that filled me with dread (and even gave me a few nightmares!).
The Lord, though, has a great sense of humor, an encouraging Spirit, and a way of helping us face our fears, whether we want to or not.
About a year and a half ago, I was taking a walk around our neighborhood, which is heavily wooded. No one was out except for me; it was a quiet morning, and I heard the beautiful and sweet sound of a lone bird, chirping and singing in the trees. I couldn't see her at first, but my eyes eventually focused, and I saw her sitting all by herself, nestled back in the trees, joyfully singing at the top of her little lungs. She was rather plain, just a simple brown little bird, and it was as if she was singing for no one except the Lord and for no reason other than His pleasure. As I stopped to listen and marvel at her voice, the Lord whispered to my heart, "Sing to Me a new song." (Reference Psalm 33:3, 40:3, 96:1, 98:1, 144:9; Isaiah 42:10. Also Revelation 5:9, 14:3.)
In that instant, I was filled with joy, and I realized afresh that He created everyone and everything to give praise to His Name. It absolutely pleased Him that I praised Him privately in song, but I felt Him encouraging me to praise Him publicly in song. "Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, His praise in the assembly of the saints." (Psalm 144:9).
Long story short: a few months ago, I joined the choir at our church. Now, beloved, I had no idea what I was doing. I could read piano music, but I did not know the difference between an alto, a soprano, and a no-no!
A few weeks after joining the choir, the Lord prompted me to show up to sing in our church praise and worship band. "What?!?!" I exclaimed, "That's only a handful of people who have been doing this together for years, and they don't even practice until a few minutes before the Sunday service!! I don't even know if they accept new band members. What if I have to try out?" But, in obedience to Him, I arrived early the Sunday morning after His prompting and hesitantly said, "I'm here to sing with the band." I don't know what everyone thought, but they were kind enough not to say it out loud.
Again, I had no idea what I was doing, but the Lord graciously led me through every song, note by note. I was amazed! And, I loved it! I loved praising Him in this new way! I have so far avoided any solo parts, but now, He is impressing me to share an a cappella version of "Amazing Grace" that I sing to Him in my own private praise and worship. Oh, have mercy! Please pray for me!
I share this, precious friends, to encourage you to put all of your faith, trust, hope, and love in Him. Listen to Him, and be obedient to Him. Most of all, love Him and praise Him! "For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and joy in His dwelling place." (1 Chronicles 16:25-27; see also Psalm 96:4-6).
Most of the world celebrated 2009 by ringing in the new year at midnight. I fell asleep about 11:30 pm but woke up thirty minutes later to the sound of gunshots ushering in 2009. (Which one of my neighbors was doing THAT?!) I stumbled past my sleeping husband, my sleeping dogs, and into the room of my sleeping daughter, to kiss her forehead. And I praised the Lord. "At midnight I rise to give You thanks for Your righteous laws." (Psalm 119:62).
Beloved, it is not the new year that gives us hope but our new birth in Jesus Christ. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith -- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire -- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:3-7).
We can do nothing in our own strength ... but everything is His (reference Philippians 4:13). All glory and praise to Him!
Precious Father, thank You for Your love! Thank You for making all things new. Thank You for Your Word and the promises within it. I pray that 2009 will yield a harvest of righteousness for those who love and trust in You (reference 2 Corinthians 9:10; Hebrews 12:11; James 3:18). May we all sing a new song to You and "may everything that has breath praise the Lord" (Psalm 150:6). I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the Good News! Amen.
a new thing!
Now it springs up;
do you not perceive it?
I am making a way
in the desert
and streams
in the wasteland."
(Isaiah 43:19)
For further reflection on this topic, see also ...
How can I encourage and pray for you today? Please let me know by clicking on "Sparks Share" at the end of today's reflection, and scroll down to the "Comments" box. You may choose to comment anonymously, if you prefer. Feel free to leave your praises and insights as well!
Copyright 2009. Kathryn B. Wells. All Rights Reserved.
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2 comments:
I really enjoyed reading your post about singing and joining the choir. I recently joined my church choir right before Thanksgiving. And I was very much intimidated. I was thinking about hitting the wrong note, forgetting the words to the song, and every and any little thing for that matter.
However, by December, all my fears were gone out the window. I was a free-spirited person. I was blessed through my church choir and many told me that they were blessed by my presence as well.
Being part of the praise and worship team or choir is such an awarding experience.
PS - Happy New Year!!
Toia,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience, too. It is so exciting to see how the Lord is stirring hearts to praise Him!
"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 15:5-6)
New year blessings, and Epiphany hope, love, joy, and peace!
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