A Melody

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ...
Ephesians 5:18-20 NKJV

When my children were small, I would snuggle them close and sing to them. When they were babies and toddlers, I would rock them and sing them to sleep. And as they got older, when we went anywhere in the car, we would sing. I believe singing while holding my babies taught them that every song can be a love song, and I believe singing together connects people with a language understood only by the heart.

Our text for today is why I believe participatory praise and worship is so important. I've heard people say, "Oh, I don't sing during praise and worship because I just want to hear the praise team or worship leader sing." or "I don't sing during praise and worship because I can't carry a tune and I don't want to distract from anyone else's worship." That's a lie bought and sold from the father of lies to keep us from praising God Almighty.

Let me just say that God doesn't care if you can't carry a tune in a bucket with handles and help! It's not about carrying a tune - it's about making melody in your heart to the Lord. It's about singing Him a new song. it's about O for a thousand tongues to sing praises to my King...There is NO Scripture anywhere in the Bible that says, "Sing a perfect-pitch praise unto the Lord." In Truth, it reads "Make a joyful NOISE..." And it's not always because you feel happy. Some of the greatest hymns and gospel songs were written in the darkest of times.

We're always talking about planting seeds, sowing and reaping. How about cultivating the music of your life? Is there a song in your heart? Do you remember your heart's song? If you will sing it to someone else, they can sing it back to you when you haven't the wherewithal to sing it yourself. Just start humming...Make a melody in your heart.

Prayer:

Father,
Thank You for music! Thank You for ways to express ourselves that we couldn't even begin to do any other way. Hear our songs, Father! Let them be a sweet smelling savor to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen