Friends
Is there a song in your heart today? Wherever you are, lift up a song of praise to our good and gracious Lord!
+++
Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.
Isaiah 12:5 – NIV
Early in the morning, his voice floats through the air. Sometimes I hear him through the closed window of my bedroom. Other times, I catch the sound as I step out for my daily walk. Invariably, I hear him when I am sipping my hot tea on my front porch glider. No matter the time, the sound of his voice never fails to make me smile.
I smile because he sings. I smile not because of the beauty of his voice or his song selection. No, the grin on my face is about the joy in his voice.
This young man is a neighbor of mine with an intense passion for cycling. He climbs on his bike shortly after dawn and rides for hours all around our neighborhood. There is no telling how many miles he covers in his daily rides.
I admire his passion for fitness and his boundless energy level, but what never fails to captivate my attention is his singing. Ear buds in place, he cruises down the road listening to his favorite tunes. But he doesn’t just listen, he sings along, and he does so at the top of his voice. All through the neighborhood, he belts out the songs with a gusto that grabs the notice of passersby.
His words are not clear, and he doesn’t quite hit the notes, but what he lacks in musical talent, he overcomes with his enthusiasm. His songs are filled to the brim with sheer joy.
The joy in his voice is palpable. It rises from within and lifts to the heavens. While it is hard to comprehend the lyrics he lifts up, I know from the cadence and intonation that he is singing praise and worship music. Being familiar with that genre, I recognize many of the songs on his playlist. Just the other day, I heard the “Hallelujah Chorus” as he bounded down the road.
Joy…songs of joy, songs of praise lifted toward the heavens. I watch this young man in his 20s hampered by developmental challenges, and I am humbled. His life has been no bed of roses, and yet, he spends his mornings singing his heart out in praise to our Lord. He has plenty of reasons for a bad attitude, but he chooses joy instead. He focuses on worship not worry. Instead of grumbling, he spends his time glorifying God.
As I watch him speed down my street, I cannot help but ask, “What about me? How do I spend my days?” Do I let the worries of this world weigh me down? Do I spend more time grumbling and grousing than I do thanking and praising? I have every reason to rejoice so why don’t I stop and sing a song of praise?
Yes, we could all take a note from my local singing cyclist. We could find our joy despite our circumstances. We could turn our eyes to the heavens and lift up a prayerful song of praise for our countless daily blessings.
What a difference a joyful attitude makes. I know the angels in heaven rejoice when they hear the joyous cries of my young friend. Like the songs of King David, this young man brings glory to God and testifies to people like me. One thing’s for sure. The world would be a much better place if we all followed this fine example and started each day with songs of joy in our hearts and on our lips.
+++
Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
Psalm 147:1 – NIV
PRAYER
“O Lord of All, to thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise!” O Lord God, praise be to Your Name! Let us sing a song of joy, a hymn of praise, for You are our God and we are Your people! Let us rejoice! Rejoice in the Lord always!
In the Precious Name of Jesus, we pray,
Amen
Blessings,
Anita
-APS 7/ 19/2021
Faith Beyond Sight 