Psalm 122:1 (NLT)
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
Perhaps no power on earth can sway our emotions or tug our heartstrings as much as music. It has the rare ability to evoke nostalgia, inspire, encourage, depress, fill with sorrow, release anger, praise the Savior, and much more. It transports us to memories, both good and bad, and creates new ones. It’s the soundtrack of our lives. If you listened to “worldly” music before coming to Christ, you understand the difficulty of surrendering it to Jesus. You know the pain of trying to pry those deep roots from your heart. Of hearing those opening notes and being jettisoned back to feelings and emotions that ruled and suppressed your life long ago. Or still now. As believers, you also realize the power that “Godly” music has over your spirit. How it takes you out of self. How it allows an avenue of worship. How it lifts your spirit, pulls you through storms, affords opportunities to share the Gospel in a less-preachy way.
Because of all this, its no wonder John (the Pastor, not the Baptist) described song as one of the key aspects of our growth and maturity as Refugees. Singing and making music before (and about) Yahweh is the easiest way for many of us to worship. Its what draws many people to church. It prepares our hearts for the reading and studying of the Word. It allows us get excited about God, jump up and down, lift our hands, form a holy mosh pit, release pent-up praise. All commendable things. All things John mentioned as good. But in order to grow, here is something to dwell on. Call it a thought-provoker. Call it a growing pain. Call it whatever you will.
It's not about you!!!
I’ll never forget this phrase. Not only because John mentioned it as it related to worship music, but also because the first devotional I ever completed began Day 1 with this statement. It's not about us! Worship…and worship music isn’t about us. The music is meant to be an offering before God, lending our voice and blending it with others with the sole purpose of thanking and lifting up Yahweh. Its great that you have favorite songs or sprint to the front to shout and do the hand motions when the wiser and wittier Jason and company strum the opening chords of “Like a Lion.” But what about the other songs, the songs that may not draw an emotional response from us. Can we shift the focus off of us and onto God? Can we worship anyway? Can we dwell on the words…or the heart, even if we don’t “like” the music? If we can, we’re living up to the Scripture, “Lord, you become greater and allow me to become smaller.”
