Posted on July 21, 2024 Posted By: HCCCategories: journey
Heartland Community Church
THE JOURNEY
Always In My Worship Era
by Molly Fisher
“Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;” Robert Robinson (Hymn)
Is there anything better than singing along to songs on the radio (in the car, in the kitchen, while exercising)? Ok, well, maybe there are “better” things, but singing is pretty great. I love music, and when the right words, poems, and scriptures are put into music, it’s transcendent!
I appreciate that we are talking about tuning our hearts or retuning our hearts. There are rhythms to most of life: seasons, work/rest, day/night, circadian, etc. I treasure the sound and often rhythms of waves, streams, and wind through the leaves, birds, animals, and cicadas in summer. God’s creation is full of sound, rhythm, and music, and he gave the gift of creativity to people to create even more music. We don’t just hear music; we can feel music and participate (even if we are not musically talented)!
Worship, through music, together as a community, is my favorite part of a Sunday morning. If I miss a Sunday, I will watch the service or listen to the teaching later, but it’s not the same experience as sharing voices with our incredible worship leaders. Dan described worship in singing as so purposefully created, innate in us, and a powerful way God uses to pull our hearts back into one accord with his…worship grows our heart toward God.
It is easier than ever to be in flux, out of rhythm, out of tune, discordant. Music can bring order, ping our emotions, and captivate our attention. It’s hard to sing, be really focused on the song, and be distracted by the rest of the day or the next on your to-do list. It can be one of the few things that allows us to be present in the moment and feel what we feel (joy, grief, love, longing, lost, found).
Music can capture almost any emotion. It can be upbeat, fun, and joy-filled; it can be comforting and soothing to the soul and voice anger and sorrow. There is almost always a perfect piece of music to add to the soundtrack of your life, regardless of what moment you find yourself in.
For me (some of many):
Need to know God is with you in the battle – “Angel Armies,” “Build Your Kingdom Here”
Needing comfort – “Come You Disconsolate,” “Better than a Hallelujah,” “The Blessing”
Need help focusing on Jesus – almost any hymn: “Come Thou Fount,” “In Christ Alone,” “Holy Holy Holy,” “Be Thou My Vision,” “Joyful Joyful”
Many Psalms command us to sing: Psalm 13:6, 96:1, 33:3, 98:5, 105:2. A quick search will give you many more! God’s commands are always for our benefit and do us good. What are the songs that help tune your heart and grow your heart toward God? Is worship with others part of your rhythm? How does that experience impact you?
This Psalm starts, “Give thanks for the Lord, for he is good.” It continues on with all he does and provides for his people, with verse after verse giving the refrain, “His love endures forever.” Start by focusing on and being in awe of the idea that God’s love endures forever. Then consider all the ways you can be thankful, each time adding, “His love endures forever.”
God hears us in our despair as well as our praise. Do you need mercy, forgiveness, hope, His unfailing love? Can you name what you most need from God right now and ask for that, and maybe, hardest of all, continue to ask, wait, and hope?
The Lord says, “I have redeemed you…you are mine…you are precious, and I love you…I will find and gather all whom I have formed and made.” God promises to gather all who are called by his name. Are you in the habit of gathering with others that God has called? Is time in community and/or worship part of the rhythm of your life? If not, can you take steps to add this to your routine?
Do you have songs or artists you like so much that when they come on the radio, you know exactly who’s singing because you know the voice? What would it be like to be so attuned to Jesus that we listen to him and recognize his voice in our lives? Are you following the Shepherd, or are you hoping he is following you?
(A song recited by Moses.) God’s teachings are as needed as rain; he is a rock (solid and unmoving) whose works are perfect and whose ways are just. This song is long (43 verses) and a story. Moses then tells Israel, “(these) are not just idle words for you – they are your life.” It can be easy to go about your day/life and not recognize your need for God. Take a moment to consider the ways God is needed (like rain) for you to grow and live your intended life.
{extra journey resources}
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources). You can also download The Bible Project App HERE.
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
The Bible App Get the free YouVersion Bible for your phone, tablet, or computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others.
The Bible App For Kids YouVersion partnered with OneHope to develop the Bible App for Kids, designing it specifically to engage children with Bible stories on an age-appropriate level. The Bible App for Kids is a free app for Android, Apple, and Kindle devices, available in over 60 languages.
Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
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