Sing

“How many of us ever stop to think of music as a wondrous magic link with God. Taking sometimes the place of prayer where words have failed us ‘neath the weight of care. Music that knows no country, race, or creed…but gives to each according to his need.” (Anonymous)

A former music instructor shared this with me last evening and I knew I had to write it down. This elderly lady began to speak some things into my life I’d needed to hear for some time. It always amazes me that you can meet someone for the very first time and in a matter of moments, God can use them to plant seeds of encouragement into your future.

When she quoted this statement to me, I began to remember on so many occasions where I knew I needed to pray, but words failed me. There have been times where I was so overcome with life that no words seemed to fit. Other times (let’s admit it), we are so angry with God, we simply don’t want to talk.

It is in these moments that I have found music to be such a 

‘wall-breaker’ in my life.

How many times have we been at a loss for words and our mind is taken to the lyrics of a worship song? 

Think back to the moments where all kinds of chaos was reigning in your life, and you walk into God’s house at your time of worship…music begins to play and singers begin to sing…the burdens you came in with are lifted and you leave differently than you came. Music has that kind of effect.

There’s a problem in our world today though…so many have lost their ‘song.’ Life’s questions and uncertainties have weighted us down to the point that we no longer have a song in our heart that breaks down the walls before us.

Max Lucado wrote in his book ‘In the Eye of the Storm’ about Chippie the parakeet. “Chippie was a happy little bird, content every day to sit on his perch, swinging and singing to his little heart’s content. One day Chippie’s owner took the initiative to clean out his cage. She took off the attachment from the end of the vacuum hose and stuck it in the cage to remove the sediment from the bottom. Just then the phone rang. She turned to pick it up and had barely said hello when "ssopp!" Chippie got sucked in!



As you can imagine, the bird owner gasped, dropped the phone, turned off the vacuum and ripped open the bag. Inside, there lay Chippie, still alive but stunned by the trauma. The bird was covered with all the terrible grit and grime that fills vacuum bags, so the owner did the only thing she could think to do. She grabbed him up, raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under running water. Then realizing poor little Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any good bird owner would do, she reached for the hair dryer and blasted the little guy with hot air.
Poor Chippie never knew what hit him.
 A couple of days after the experience, the reporter who first wrote about the event talked to Chippie’s owner. He asked how the bird was doing. She said, "Well Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore-he just sits and stares."

It’s no wonder. One minute the little guy was swinging and singing, and before he knew it, he was sucked in, washed up and blown over. If that doesn’t turn your song into a blank stare…nothing will.  J

We have all been there. Life has sucked us in and done a number on us…taking from us the ‘song’ meant to guide us through. While you are in the middle of the storm, you’re not the only one to recognize it. Others around you notice it too. The God you brag on and live for…He sees it also. Will you really trust in Him when life becomes a ‘vacuum cleaner’ experience?

(Inner Harbor)
(Baltimore City)

Psalm 40:3 says, “He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.”

Whoever you are today, let me encourage you to find your song again…and sing. Encourage yourself in Christ by ‘singing’ when there are no words to pray. Others will be amazed at what God has done – they just might join your choir too. 

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