Roar – The Bible is Greek to Me
I love to sing even though I am not particularly gifted at it. As a child, I went to a Catholic school for a couple years. One day, I sang my heart out during mass. A girl in our class, who was an amazing singer, told me, “You should not be singing. You sound awful.”
To this day, I don’t always belt it out in church, but on beautiful days I love to open my sunroof and sing my favorite songs at the top of my lungs. (Of course, I do this when no one is in the car.) I have found if I listen to praise and worship songs on my way to work, I usually have a much more peaceful day. I think this is because I am taking my focus off my concerns, problems, or worries and putting my focus on praising and worshiping God instead. This reminds me how loving and powerful my God is and that I can trust him. It fills my heart with hope and gratitude.
One of my favorite songs to listen to on the way to work, with my sunroof open, is “Raise a Hallelujah”. I would recommend listening to this 11 minute version on YouTube which shares the powerful story behind the song. It talks about how a church family came together to pray for a family and their young son who was very ill. Jonathan David Hessler, Bethel Music, talks about the night they thought the little boy was going to die. Jonathon was heartbroken, and he thought there was no hope for this little boy. He started writing this song, and his fear and worry turned into a song of praise. (The word hallelujah is an expression of worship or rejoicing.)
I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than my unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, Heaven comes to fight for me.Chorus:
I’m going to sing in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, You’re going to hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive.
These lyrics give me hope, especially when I feel defeated or overwhelmed. They help me realize that the best way to fight the battles is by worshiping and praising God. I don’t have to fight alone. God will come to fight for me. I don’t have to worry or control things, I just need to let my praises ROAR. Hallelujah!
Colossians 3:16
Let the message about Christ in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
Questions:
How do you worship and praise Jesus? What is your favorite worship/praise song? How does worshiping and praising God affect your life? How easy or difficult is it for you to participate in worship at church? Why?
Next Steps:
Sing during the worship time, even if you don’t feel like you have the greatest singing voice. If this is difficult for you, pray and ask God to help you worship and praise him in song. Listen to at least one worship song when you first wake up in the morning.
Prayer:
Lord, I praise and worship you! You are an awesome and amazing God. I trust you and have faith in you. I thank you for all of your provisions. I am so humbled that the God of the universe loves me so much and wants to have a personal relationship with me. You know the areas I am struggling in and I am glad I can surrender them to you. I am so grateful I am able to praise and worship you through song. Amen.
This post was written by Marsha Raymond. Marsha has been happily married to her husband, Jeff, for 30 years. They have two grown sassy and fearless daughters. She loves spending time with God, her family and friends, reading, riding bicycles, yoga and walking.
Check out the Latest LivingItOut Podcast
The LivingItOut Podcast is released every Wednesday morning. It discusses key takeaways and principles from the weekend message. Listen to the weekly podcast in your car, during your lunch break, or any other time that works for you. You can find the latest podcast here.
Leave a Comment?
We would love to hear how the LivingItOut is making a difference in your life. Let us know how today’s post inspired, challenged, or encouraged you by leaving a comment here.
Want to be a part of the LivingItOut team?
We are always looking for people who are passionate about writing and proofing to serve on the LivingItOut team. If you are interested, email LIO@cedarcreek.tv today!
Printable version of this week’s LIO study:
More Resources
Series Theme Verses
LivingItOut Podcast
RightNow Media
John Reading Plan