The LORD Has Given Me A New Song!

The Bible mentions music and singing hundreds of times.  After all, music is a gift to us from God, and when we participate in it, whether by writing, performing, or even just listening, we are giving that special gift back to God as a way of thanking and praising Him!

"Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works."
Psalm 105:2

"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."
Ephesians 5:19 

"O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation."
Psalm 95:1

As far back as I can remember music has always been a part of my life.

Not as a musician or as a singer, well at least not as a professional singer! 

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!"
Psalm 100:1

I didn't grow up in a Christian home, therefore I was not privileged at an early age to hear the sweet melodious words of, "Amazing Grace" or the strong powerful lyrics of, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God".

No, in fact it was quite the opposite for me.  

I was raised on listening to Gladys Knight and the Pips telling me to hitch a ride on the, "Midnight Train to Georgia"!  Aerosmith suggesting that I, "Dream On"!  Kansas telling me that we're all just "Dust in the Wind"!

This was the ONLY music I knew, and even back in the day, it was my "go to".  I would sit on my bedroom floor listening to "my music" for hours on end.

My Dad was always so proud of me because as a three-year old I was the one who provided the entertainment at our family reunions!

Someone would put Chubby Checker's record, "The Twist", on the record player, and that's exactly what I would begin to do!  Back in the day, I could "cut a rug" by doing the twist!

Then one day things changed in a VERY BIG WAY!!

I can still remember walking into a church at the age of twenty-six and hearing all these people singing songs which I had NEVER EVER heard!

"Leaning on the Everlasting Arms", "Be Thou My Vision", "I Love to Tell the Story", "There Is a Fountain" (which now has become one of my most favorite hymns!)

I remember being struck by the fact that these people not only knew these songs, but they really seemed to ENJOY singing them!

The songs appeared to have GREAT meaning to these people!

"My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed."
Psalm 71:23

Two months after entering that church for the first time, I came to know Christ as my personal Saviour! 

Then I, too, knew EXACTLY what those people were experiencing as they were singing praises unto the Lord!

The Lord truly gave to me a new song!  

"And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD."
Psalm 40:3

Music is SO very powerful!

Either for good or for evil.

I've lived "in" both sides of music.

I'm thankful to be living "in the good side" of music.  However, I most definitely had my share of the evil side of music.

In my late teens and early twenties before I knew Christ as my personal Saviour, of course I listened to music purely for the enjoyment and the entertainment which it provided.

Now, since I know Christ as my Saviour, I listen to music which will bring honor and glory to my Saviour.

I listen to certain songs which give incredible amounts of joy, peace, and comfort and remind me that I'm a daughter of The King!

Before I knew Christ, I had no idea, and if I did, I didn't care that "my music" talked of Hell like a fun party place to be.  That the lyrics took my Saviour's name in vain.  That the songs talked about all the pleasures of sin a day could bring forth.  

Oh, how thankful I am that the Lord truly gave to me a new song!

There are days due to my chronic illness when my vision is very blurry and obscured which makes reading my Bible very difficult.  Or my head may be pounding so severely that I can't focus to read God's Word or barely pray.

On days like I mentioned above, all I can do is lay in my bed and listen to music. 

It's amazing the calming and, oh, so, peaceful effect GODLY MUSIC can have upon the body.

"And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.”
I Samuel 16:23

Recently a very good friend of mine shared with me a new song which has become one of my favorite "go to songs", and I'd like to share it with all of you.

The songwriter penned this song after struggling through the pain, despair and loss of experiencing a miscarriage.

She said it was important to her that the song was not just limited to only her story.  She wanted others to put their own lives into the song.   

This song is her letter to God.  As she asks some really hard questions, she still holds onto the truth that there is so much to the story of her life that she can't see, but she still chooses to trust the Lord.

I "go to" this song not only for comfort, but also to hear the TRUTH which the Lord wants me to hear.

I listen to this song when I just can't do this chronic illness "thing" one more day, one more hour, one more minute, one more second.

I turn this song on and allow the words to fill my heart, soul and mind when the loneliness and isolation that tags along with chronic illness is threatening to overtake me.

I sing the words to this song when I'm crying out to the Lord a thousand "whys" and "what ifs".

I don't personally know what you are facing in your life.

It may be a chronic illness.

A wayward child.

Financial problems.

Marital difficulties.

Depression.

Loss of a job.

The list is endless.

Please listen to this song with an open heart and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your spirit.

It's been a tremendous help to me on those very difficult days and maybe, just maybe, it will do the same for you.

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May God Bless You,

Barb