He’s Singing Over Us – Time for Us to Sing over Him
A dear friend who is an accomplished vocalist and guitarist recently tripped going up deck stairs and broke her wrist. Surgery was required and thanks be to God the surgery was a success but a hard cast plus therapy is in store for her. This precious woman has been an incredibly faithful music leader for several faith-based organizations and her church. Can we imagine losing the ability (even temporarily) of a talent and ability that has been such a blessing to so many?
I pray she hears God singing over her as she has sung and played for Him so faithfully. Zephaniah 3:17 says: “The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight in you with singing.”
Here’s the thing about my friend and you and me. God is always aware of what is going on in our lives at every moment. And, even when we become children of God and are obedient to Him, honoring and serving Him, troubles may still come our way and our sunshine-filled days turn into rainy days, and even storm-filled days. This is where scripture tells us to “offer the sacrifice” of praise. We don’t always feel like praising the Lord in joyful singing. Sometimes we’re down, depressed and hurting closing the shades, staying in bed and pulling the covers over our head, just makes sense.
But, don’t go there. Instead, offer a sacrifice of praise! A sacrifice is something not easy to give. It costs something. It takes more effort than we can put out. Why bother? Surely God will understand. Yes, He might understand, but He knows praise defeats the enemy who is trying to get the best of us. That’s why there are many scriptures that urge us to praise!
It is often called “a sacrifice of praise” in scripture. Hebrews 13:15-16 says: “Through Him, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips that acknowledge His name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” What? Doing good and sharing what we have are considered sacrifices of praise to God.
In our country, it’s almost impossible to not hear negativity – hurting people hurt people and things (i.e, lost lives, properties and beloved sites destroyed, and distraught and hurting people). Too often we are waiting on God to do something when He is waiting on us to make the first move. He has already made the first move by all that Jesus did on the cross. He has provided liberally for our salvation, our healing, our provision as well as other things too numerous to count.
It’s time for us to hit the ground running each day – with sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. Sometimes we don’t know where to start or what to say because we haven’t been used to doing it. But, let’s try it. Be specific. For example: “I praise you, God, for keeping my family safe from the C-Virus. I thank you that I’ve still been able to work. I praise you for my home, my car, my food, my clothes.”
It may not be easy to utter those words – but that’s what a sacrifice is. Praise changes us, as well as the atmosphere around us. It lifts the down feeling that settles in on us. Someone said, “You have to make your own sunshine.” Praise to God has a way of moving the clouds out and bringing the sunshine in. So, today, “God, we enter into your gates with thanksgiving and into your courts with praise!” That’s the least we can do for He Who sings over us daily.