When I was a teenager certain letter combinations were magic. Say, “WNOE,” “KEEL,” or “KAAY,” and we all perked up. Those were the call letters of popular radio stations which broadcast into our area and most of the ‘with-it’ young people tuned in. (“With it” is what we wanted everyone to think we were. “Without it” was what most of us were. Who knows what “it” is anyway.
You could only hear WNOE, New Orleans at night. It wasn’t a country music station back then. K ‘double E’ L broadcast from Shreveport and KAAY was in Little Rock.
I’ll admit that one of my greatest joys in life is music. I warble for Phyllis sometimes, “I’ve got sunshine on a cloudly day … what can make me feel this way? My girl.” (She appreciates my singing when I stop. The silence that follows is comforting). I can’t play an instrument to save my life, but I listen to anything from Southern Gospel to Antonio Vivaldi and most points in between. Vestal Goodman or Luciano Pavarotti, Diana Ross or André Rieu, I’m ready for you. (Though if you’re talking Madonna and Katy Perry, I’m out).
You know who my favorite singer is, though? God! You didn’t even know that He’d recorded anything, did you? He has some incredible concerts. And they are free!
Listen to this (and for those who know me, this probably isn’t the first time you’ve read this verse): “
“For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
(Zeph. 3:17, NLT)
And this:
“For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory.”
Psalms 32:7
Somehow, singing doesn’t seem dignified enough for God, does it? I can’t imagine the Lord belting out a song on “The Voice” or “America’s Got Talent.”
God loves us so much that He doesn’t worry about dignity. Have you heard Him singing in a hurrying stream, a water fall or the powerful, silent music of a clear mountain night with the stars and moon as His microphone?
You might hear Him in your pain if you hush and listen. He sings a lot, it’s just our radio is rarely turned to the right station. Our hurt causes static and questions and doubts drown out His voice. But, He’s singing all the time. We can’t hush Him.
His voice resonates with the bell-like purity of an opera singer, the soul-moving power of a folk singer and the toe-tapping inspiration of a blue-grass band. Can’t you hear Him?
If I’m whining, pouting, doubting, or shouting at Him, my emotions stop my ears from hearing His voice. A prophet in the Bible had that problem. He looked for God’s voice in an earth-shaking event, in a burning fire and in a powerful wind, but the Lord wasn’t there.
Then a still, small voice penetrated His depression and God touched his soul and healed Him.
God’s singing can heal your past, too. We can’t change what happened, but we can change our understanding of what happened. His beautiful voice gives significance and beauty to even the painful things that rack us.
How can you hear God singing?
We must be intentional about hearing. If I want to listen to a certain radio station, I turn my radio to that station. It’s not a problem of ‘if’ God’s singing. He’s crooning like a songbird. I’ve just got to tune in.
The Bible says if we want to hear His voice, we musn’t harden our hearts. Make you heart sensitive and open to God.
It helps to escape the noise of daily life. Sometimes, a day or two away from the cacophony of daily living helps. Once I tried to sing while an old lady next to me sang off key. Finallly, both of us were off key. To hear the Spirit’s soul-restoring music, we often have to move away a little bit. Take your Bible with you. You might sing a bit to Him.
Quieten your spirit before the Lord. If you can’t, ask Him to do it for you. “”But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.” (Psalm 131:2 NIV)
You may have been hurting for a long time. Jesus came to open deaf ears—natural and spiritual ears. Get away a minute, listen. There’s healing in the song you will hear.
He wants to sing for you.
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