Singing: Step 9 For Cultivating Daily Delight in Prayer
“Could you not watch with Me one hour?”
Matthew 26:40 (NKJV)
Step Nine _________________________
Basic Definition
The Act of Melodic ________________
Action Focus: Creative _____________________
Key Word: __________________________
Voices from the Past:
“The gift of language combined with the gift of song is given to man that he should proclaim the Word of God through music.”
— Martin Luther
SINGING: A Biblical Basis
Scripture:
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.
Psalm 100:1-2 (NLT)
Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music.
Psalm 27:6 (NLT)
Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.
Ephesians 5:18-19 (NLT)
Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.
Psalm 126:5-6 (NLT)
Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 69:30 (NLT)
The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock! May God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted! He is the God who pays back those who harm me; he brings down the nations under me and delivers me from my enemies. You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; you save me from violent opponents. For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.
2 Samuel 22:47-50 (NLT)
Summary Definition of SINGING…
A time to ____________________
Voices from the Past:
“We do not sufficiently often forget our own petty wants and anxieties, and launch down our tiny tributaries, until we are borne out into the great ocean of praise, which is ever breaking in music around the person of Jesus. Let a part of our private and public devotion be even dedicated to the praise of Jesus—when we shall break forth into some hymn, or psalm, or spiritual song, singing and praising Christ with angels and archangels and all the host of the redeemed.”
—F. B. Meyer
SINGING: A Prayer Application
Worship with ____________
Voices from the Past:
“I sing the doxology and dismiss the devil. I believe truly that Satan cannot endure it and so slips out of the room — more or less — when there is a true song.”
—Amy Carmichael
SINGING: A Life Application
Do something extra _________________.
Where to Next?
SINGING…
Four Ways to Get Started and Keep Going!
Following are four suggestions to help you personally apply this aspect of the 12 in daily prayer.
A Practical Prayer Summary
Step 9 in World-Changing Prayer
- Pause in your devotional hour to sing a specific song unto the Lord.
- Select a special theme for your song, such as praise, thanksgiving or a favorite passage of Scripture.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to create an original melody in your heart so your song is truly “a new song.”
- Don’t hesitate to sing songs of thanksgiving for specific blessings or victories you believe God will give you in the days ahead.
Afterthoughts...Ponder and Pray
Ponder Points:
Discuss (or ponder) why singing to the Lord falls into the category of “specialized praise.” Some Bible scholars believe that references in the Psalms to offering “high praises” could refer to singing praise to the Lord. Why do you think that might qualify as “high praise”?
Personal Afterthoughts
Prayer Points:
Select a favorite passage of Scripture that you are familiar with. If you can’t think of a passage, use a Psalm such as Psalm 23, 27 or 63. Now, as you look at the words of this passage, begin to softly hum a melody from your heart. After humming for a few moments, sing out the words of the passage you have selected with the melody you have been humming. Don’t be ashamed if you think you lack a good singing voice.
