Faithful God, your love has been with me throughout this day. May the gates of my heart open wide so that I may give you thanks. With my heart, mind, and soul, I thank you. Night has come and I am weary. Deliver me in your peace. Even as I sleep, I trust in you. Deliver me from harm. As I close my eyes, let me rest in your gracious care for me. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
98 Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
“Sing a new song to the Lord” (Psalm 98:1)
Why should we sing? Because singing engages our hearts and emotions as well as our minds, and God cares about our whole person, emotions included. He wants to breathe life into our spirits and minds and bodies. Singing offers him entry into our whole being in a way that ordinary speech doesn’t. And if we have difficulty opening our hearts, singing can open the pathway for his Spirit to move in us.
So go ahead and sing a new song! Sing of Jesus’ victory on the cross, his victory over sin and death. Sing because God has given you victory through Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). Sing because you do not have to live mired in guilt and shame. Sing because you have access to the Father through the blood of Jesus’ cross. Sing because he who is faithful will cleanse you in the pure water of life. These aren’t things we just hope will happen; they are steadfast promises of God!
Sing of God’s justice, revealed in his unfathomable mercy and kindness toward us. Sing of his intense desire that none perish but that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Sing because he has redeemed you from sin – yes, even the sin you brought upon yourself. Sing because he wants to make you holy and blameless – and because he is faithful and will accomplish it.
Sing because he wants to make you holy and blameless in his sight and in the sight of all those around you. Sing a song of gratitude as he leads you in paths of righteousness today. Sing as he cleanses your conscience and gives you rest. Sing of what is pure and right, lovely and good. Sing joyfully as you see his kindness and faithfulness toward you. Sing of your longing to know all of this more; to experience his love and mercy more and more deeply Sing the new song that all the saints and angels are singing in heaven right now: “God is good! He has done marvelous things!”
Father, you are marvelous! I praise you for your goodness in my life. You are faithful, just, and merciful, and I am hungry to experience more of you. Father, I will sing today of your victory and your mercy. Amen.
From The Word Among Us, May 21st, 2011.
Andy
livingwaters67 