Did you know that people who sing
everyday live an average of five years longer than those who don’t?
Alright, I don’t know if that’s really true,
but I do know that most Christian singers handle stress much better and laugh
more. Have they tapped into what it
takes to reach God?
The first time I heard the Easters sing
I noticed something about their spirit.
No matter what they were experiencing they did it with a song and joy in
their hearts, even when Sheri was facing cancer.
What was Mrs. Easter’s testimony and the
force behind her triumph? "Praise His Name" by singing, just as the scriptures instruct us to do each day.
Welcome new
friends this week from:
New on DFB - Ghana, New Zealand, Guatemala,
Turkey, Bangladesh; Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal; Giza Al Jizah, Egypt; Ludlow,
England, UK; Abbotsford, BC & Orillia, ON, Canada; Dalby, QLD, Australia;
Hyderabad, Andhra, Pradesh, India.
USA - Jamestown, New York; Spotsylvania, Virginia; Ledlow,
Kentucky; Smyrna, Georgia; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Margate City, Browns Mills
& Williamstown, New Jersey; Maidsville, West Virginia; Rancho Cucamonga,
California; Pinellas Park, Florida.
So good to see new people each week along with our
faithful followers. It is a joy to meet
you and share this Inner Journey together on Daily Favor. (DFB - Daily Favor Blog)
If I’ve missed anyone forgive me. Please share this
challenge and invite more friends to join us.
You are making a difference!
Don’t
miss out on this week’s challenge (below).
In
the Morning, Noon and Supper Time
When I was a kid we used to sing a song in
children’s church that I thought was just fun, not realizing its true
meaning.
Do you remember this one? It
even had hand motions.
“Praise Him, Praise Him, Praise Him in
the morning; praise Him in the noon time.
Praise Him, Praise Him, Praise Him when
the sun goes down.”
There were more verses, but you get the gist
of it I think. So, I kept singing that
song, over and over, but never gaining the benefits of what singing to God
really was or what it meant to Him.
Reasons Why I Sing
It wasn’t until I became a Worship
Leader that I took singing to God seriously.
I love to sing, and didn’t go out of my way to do it differently when I
sang in church. If I liked the song I’d
sing it with more enthusiasm, if I didn’t, I was singing because it was time to
“please rise as we sing page …”
Now I sing with an entirely new approach; because it’s His will. I also love the promises of God that
accompany our being obedient to singing to Him.
Who’da thought?
I also discovered for myself that a song
in my heart keeps me in the company of the Lord when I need Him the most. Knowing how to worship in song was what saw
me through after my accident.
Music gave me hope when the doctors said
the opposite, and basically wrote me off as a “non-functional” adult who would
be co-dependent on others for the rest on my life. “Then sings my soul” became real to me and
changed the facts of my condition, because of the healing truth in God’s word.
Reasons Why Believers
Should Sing
We can probably agree that singing at
times is a sporting event for some of us, especially when we get going in full
swing. Along with the physical activity,
singing has many benefits that most of us haven’t utilized. I could list “10,000 Reasons” like the song
states, but I won’t. Are you interested in some of them?
Sing
Daily, Sing Often
Sing because God has
delivered us from our enemies. (Exodus 15:12 NLT)
Sing to Jesus because He
loves to hear us sing about all He has done.
“Sing to Him, sing
psalms unto Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works.”(1 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV)
Did you know that out of the first fourteen Psalms
nine of them were sung? When I began studying this book I learned so much about
how important singing is to the Lord.
It’s pretty exhilarating to be able to do something you love and know
that God loves when I sing, even if others don’t find it in their “key.”
A sweet friend and I go back and forth with this
phrase. When one starts it, the other
one finishes it, every time with a smile on our faces.
God is good all the
time.
All the time, God is
good!
“I will sing to the
LORD, because He is good to me.” (Psalm 13:6 NLT)
Sing because God is
good all the time. We sing this in
church and it uplifts us each time we celebrate the goodness of the Lord. It truly brings a song of joy to our hearts
and changes the way we worship God throughout the week, not just in the
service. This happy little tune sort of
sticks with you.
Sing for joy because God
is our helper when we abide in the shadow of His wings. (Psalm 63:7 NLT)
Several years ago I remember being summoned to the
ICU hospital bed of a man who was brain dead.
His wife looked at me and asked what she could do to help boost her
faith as she stared at death.
Confidently I said, “We’re going to sing.” I
came prepared with music and a boom box to sing a song of thanksgiving for
healing, believing God would work a miracle …and he did!
Sing because only
Christians have hope in His promises. Jesus’
name is more powerful than any sickness.
Praise in song for being rescued from pain physically or emotionally. (Psalm 69:29-30 NLT)
and (Exodus 15:26 KJV)
This is one of the songs we sang that day.
Need more convincing?
Sing, shout and praise. So this means it’s rather
loud don’t you think? (Psalm 95:1-2 NKJ)
Hey, sing
for the fact that you’re alive! “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord sing the
Psalms to the Lord.”
If you are breathing, you’re alive and that means there is a reason to
sing. (Psalm 98 and 105 NKJ)
This is one that most people don’t do at all! We
are instructed on how we are to go to the Lord. “Come before Him in singing.” Maybe your prayers aren’t being answered because
you’re not singing praises to the Lord as you enter His gates.
Want answers? … start singing praises.
“Enter into His gates
with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.”
(Psalm 100:1-4 NKJ)
Sing of His love, mercy, favor and justice that
are never ending. Can’t say that for humans can we? (Psalm 101:1 NKJ)
Sing that our confidence
is in God (not man) because He isn’t dead, but surely alive to fulfill His
promises. (Psalm 108:1and Luke 24:6 NKJ)
Sing of His amazing
grace for all He has done for us. He is worthy of our praise because He took
our place on the cross for us that we would live and be free from sin. (Psalm 147 NKJ)
Sing out of obedience
to the Heavenly Father’s command stating everything that has breath must praise
the LORD. Praise the Lord. If the birds can sing and God takes care of them I
think we should take a lesson from them. (Psalm 150:6 NKJ)
We sing because
we believe ...
Miracles happen suddenly when we sing praises during
trials and tribulation if you believe in God.
In the middle of a storm God shows up and holds on
to us seeing that we make it to the other side. (Acts 16:16-31 NKJ)
Jesus died on the cross, and is risen from the dead.
Sing because He is coming for us one day!
Sing because God gives
us choices to the type of songs in how we praise Him. Colossians 3:16-17 invites
the believer to sing songs, hymns and spiritual songs (not just what is in the
hymn book. God still anoints song
writers.)
"Let the Word of Christ
dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the
Lord. And whatever you do in word or
deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through Him (Jesus).” (Colossians 3:16-17 NKJ)
Hymn books are fine when they are actually
scripturally sound. Just because it’s in
the book doesn’t mean you have to sing it.
For example, when we sing the traditional Amazing Grace we change the
word “wretch” because God never called me a wretch.
Paul called himself that name as an expression of how sinful he
was. God said we are sinners saved by
grace, so that’s what we sing.
No matter what song you sing, make sure it stands
up biblically regardless to whether or not it has a good beat.
Anointed Hymns -
Have
we found enough reasons to sing to God?
I think so.
You’ll Have to Sing
the Words
When my husband was the president of our youth
group there were times when we were in charge of the evening services.
One particular time he was leading the
singing where people called out a page number from the hymnal for the
congregation to sing.
When he asked for requests someone shouted “Beulah
Land.” With instruments playing and the microphone in hand he totally forgot
the song. The congregation didn’t mind
and they started singing it on their own, however for this week’s Inward
Journey you won't have any back-up singers to help you.
The Task Does
Matter
 |
| Maybe not, but neither is your spelling! |
A music major college student was doing his
practice teaching when asked to take part in a Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
meeting. He was asked to lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
It was time for him to participate in the
activity. Placing his nervous hand over
his heart, Rick began the task and loudly proclaimed,
“My country tis of thee,
sweet land of liberty, of thee of sing …”
If praise is the highest form of worship,
why not do it
in a song?
You are the worship leader this week and that
means following through with your assignment.
Don’t fret though; you’ll be practicing all week to an audience of One.
“I will praise the Name
of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.” (Psalm 69:30 KJV)
Challenge of the
Week:
Sing, Sing, Sing
Along our journey this year we’ve learned how to
spend time with God. So now we’re
going to step it up big time!
Our inward challenge isn’t going to sing to our country, a friend, spouse or in
general. We are going to lift our joyful
voices loudly, specifically unto the
Lord our God and have a great time doing it.
You have His permission to “get down” with your groove in private before
the Lord.
There is a hitch though …
Every day we are going to sing a song, not once but
three times. Yep, three times – the same song.
When I am reviewing a song that we may use in a
service I do it by singing it three times … to the Heavenly Father, Jesus and
the Holy Spirit. Seems strange right?
Singing the song three times in a row helps get it in my
spirit. By the time I sing it the third time I know most of the words if not
all of them, and it allows me to really enjoy the message and praise more
effectively.
I’m no longer singing
lyrics, but have moved beyond that into worshipping from my heart. It’s a much more meaningful experience and
becomes elevated as I sing.
Let’s Get Happy
with Singing
Here we go. Pick a song, any song that I have listed below and sing it three
times in a row. Don’t switch songs.
You will notice how you have an overall
change of spirit and emotions by the time you finish the last one. If you don’t, something may be wrong in your
attitude, so check that first.
Day two (three and so forth), pick a new song from the list below only (there is a reason), and sing
it three times one after the other like you did the first day.
Carry on with this routine the entire week and see if you don’t notice a
big difference in your attitude, confidence, faith and inner journey.
10,000 Reasons and More...
With an audience of
One … Sing loud, sing hard, sing daily!
Everyone will begin with this same song to create
unity. Start off blessing the Lord because of His love, mercy and favor.
No matter what you are experiencing, sing your way
through it. Sing sister, mister and all
that has breath … praise the Lord.
Until next time, sing
of God’s amazing favor through Jesus.
Music Play List: Choose any song from this list and sing it 3x’s one after the other. (You don't have to do them all, I just wanted to give a good selection across the globe.)
CLICK on the title to take you to the video.
God's Not Dead - Newsboys with lyrics
We Believe - Newsboys with lyrics
He Has Made Me Glad - Maranatha Singers with lyrics
I Could Sing of Your Love Forever from (Acts 17:28 KJV)
Everything that has Breath - Hillsong/Darlene Zschech with lyrics
Build Your Kingdom Here - Rend Collective with lyrics (in Belfast, Ireland)
I Am - David Crowder Band with lyrics
Bless the Lord oh my soul Bless the Lord, O My Soul "10,000 Reasons" - Matt Redman with lyrics
Maybe you don’t know the Living God that I
know, but would like to have this kind of favor in your life also. Click on the above tab “Tell Me” for more
information on becoming a child of the Savior.
Content and Image Copyright from Favored1. Do not copy. A.N.A. logo by
J.C.Penney, Inc.
Scripture reference was taken from the New King James Bible Version
provide by Gateway Bible.
Image credit: Google
Images or Dreamstime Creative
Common License if not specified.
Image:
Sing Sister Kids singing Girl singing Clock Exodus 15:26 God's Not Dead Beulah Land
Children's Song "Praise Him" - American Traditional, Marvin V. Frey 1918-1992 Public Domain
