We celebrate our sport’s team ad nauseam. Why not celebrate our amazing God?!
Until recently, praise and thanksgiving in song have not been as important as they should have been in my daily spiritual walk. I cannot believe how dense I’ve been. Psalm 100 is clear, 1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. The Psalmist tells us that “singing”, “thanksgiving”, “praise” and “blessing His name” are enjoyable to God. Those of us who have intimate relationships with Him have hearts that are full of praise for Him!
In the New Testament, it is obvious that intimacy and fellowship with God is tied to praise and worship.
- Ephesians 5:18 commands us to “be filled with the Holy Spirit.” This is a powerful, essential verse for us who desire to follow him closely and experience fellowship and guidance. Immediately following this command, the Bible describes what the environment of intimacy with Jesus looks like in verses 19-21, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
- Colossians 3:16 shows us the realm of His word “richly dwelling in us”, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. The realm of God’s word dwelling comfortably in our midst is full of “singing” and “thankfulness”.
- Likewise, the same is true regarding our behavior discovered in Colossians 3:17, And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
If you are looking for a God Who is sterile without feeling, from what I read, it is not the God of our faith. He loves to fellowship with us in the midst of singing, praise, and thanksgiving. He wants to enjoy us and for us to enjoy Him with song. Learn to practice His presence by starting your day with faith-based songs and worship carrying a tune in your heart throughout the day.
Psalm 95:1-3 sings out, “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
Celebrate your God!
Barnabas Man 