1 Chronicles 15:16: “David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers to sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.”
With excitement, David prepared to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem. He wanted joyful songs. He wanted accompaniment by lyres, harps and cymbals.
As Christians in a free country, we have much to celebrate. We don’t have to wait until Sunday to praise and worship the Lord. We can do that every day.
As one woman talked about her wonderful husband who had recently passed away, she said, “Every day was Thanksgiving with Freddie.”
Jesus intercedes for us at the right hand of God, and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us also. Every day should be Thanksgiving for us too. Now that’s something to celebrate with joyful songs. We may not have a lyre, harps, or cymbals, but some of us have a piano, a guitar, drums, or at the very least CDs of praise and worship music.
If your family and home survived a natural disaster like the Colorado fires, sing joyful songs. If your air conditioner worked throughout the heat wave on the East coast, sing joyful songs.
You may have health problems. However, if you have health insurance and doctors you like, play a musical instrument and sing joyful songs. If you don’t play one, pick your favorite Christian station and play the radio.
Maybe you will attend a family reunion this summer. Sing joyful songs that you have a family. Your family may not be perfect, but neither is anyone else’s.
Perhaps you are in women’s ministry or men’s ministry. Celebrate. Thank God for volunteers who provide activities, encouragement, and prayer support.
Most of us spend time daily with God in prayer and Bible study. Sing joyful songs if your hands can hold a Bible, and your eyes can see the words.
When you go to bed this evening, sing joyful songs. You have a bed, a pillow, and blankets. If you can get into bed on your own, sing louder. Not everyone can.
Dear God, help me see the many reasons I can sing joyful songs. Amen.
Application: When will you praise God with music this week?
Copyright © by Yvonne Ortega July 10, 2012