An 8-day devotional
Worship and the Word
‘Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.‘
(Colossians 3:16 NLT)
I’m privileged to be part of a church that takes today’s highlighted scripture very seriously. We have written and recorded many songs that include verses and choruses straight from and inspired by scripture.
I do not say this to brag, I’m sure a lot of churches make it their goal to include the Bible in their lyrics.
I simply share this to emphasise its potency.
We all know that speaking the word of God out loud over our lives is powerful. But when we take the words of scripture – remembering that they are God-breathed and inerrant – and turn it into song, we take things to a whole new level!
We combine the warfare of worship with the sword of the Spirit (the Bible).
When we allow the word of God to inform what we sing we are aligning our mouths with truth. And truth is powerful!
Consider the lyrics of a song that was written in the House I am a part of:
‘Some may trust in chariots but not us,
We will trust in the One who holds the universe.
Some may trust in their own strength but not us,
We will trust in the One who raised the dead!’
(Excerpt from ‘Chariots’ by Freedom Church)
These lyrics were inspired by scripture. Perhaps the following verse which aligns with the song’s message:
Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,
but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.
(Psalm 20:7 NLT)
This powerful song of declaration is only powerful because it is sharing the truth of scripture.
When we choose to stand on the word of God, singing out its truth, we are taking a powerful stance in the spiritual realm.
There is one prerequisite to writing and singing songs that are founded on scripture – we need to know scripture!
If you don’t already have a relationship with your Bible – and by relationship I mean a daily picking up, opening and reading of the Word – know that you are short-changing both your spiritual health and your relationship with God.
You wouldn’t neglect your body by going a day without eating so why neglect the health of your soul by starving it of the word of God?
My encouragement to you as you begin to incorporate reading aloud or even singing scripture during times of worship is to become intimately acquainted with it.
Make a plan, make that plan a priority and make a start.
You won’t regret it.
Father,
When picking up our Bibles and reading or even singing from its contents seems too far away from our ability, please give us the courage and the tenacity to keep fighting for our daily relationship with your word.
We are so grateful that you would breathe such powerful truths into a book that we can touch, hold and know. May we never take it for granted.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
Photo by DAVID NIETO on Unsplash
Living The Jesus Life 