Take Joy, My King, in What You Hear

Ah… love songs.

Love songs to our babies. Love songs to our spouses. Love songs that linger in the kitchen while we stir soup or fold laundry. Songs that carry memories like perfume — one note and suddenly we’re back in a moment we thought we’d forgotten.

And then there are the love songs we sing to the Lord.

Isn’t it something that God — our Creator of melody, rhythm, harmony, and every bird that ever chirped at sunrise — still leans in to hear our voices?

Christianity is a singing faith because it isn’t merely a religion. It’s a relationship. A love affair. God loved us first, and He still desires to hear love poured back toward Him.

One of my favorite worship songs says it best:

“I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice.
To worship You, O my soul, rejoice.
Take joy, my King, in what You hear.
May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.”

I can almost picture heaven getting quiet as God listens. Not because we sing perfectly — goodness knows I don’t — but because love always sounds beautiful to the One Who is love.

Now… confession.
How often do I let my tongue slip into sounds that are not exactly “worship”? Complaints. Worries. Whining. A little “poor me” melody. I imagine God gently covering His ears like a parent listening to a toddler bang on pots and pans and calling it a concert.

But when we praise Him? Oh, how He must smile.

Psalms 22:3 says, “He inhabits the praises of His people.” He moves in. He makes Himself at home in our worship.

And for those who say, “But I can’t sing…” don’t worry. God isn’t looking for a Grammy. He simply says, “Make a joyful noise!” Psalms 66:1

If we can shout at a football game — (oh me — that was me and my family on Super Bowl Sunday), we can surely sing to our King of Kings!

Because when we truly remember what He’s done for us, love rises up like a fountain. Words turn into worship. Gratitude becomes a melody.

And once again we sing: “Take joy, my King, in what You hear…
May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.”