Sunday, June 17, 2012

Assist Me to Proclaim

I’ve often set through Sunday morning worship reciting hymns, scripture, and the Lord’s Prayer without paying attention to the words I spoke. As I lazily looked around the sanctuary, I saw others doing the same.
What must we look like from the pulpit?

One Sunday, not long after a serious bout of pneumonia, the opening hymn was one of my favorites and I wished I could sing.

As the music started, the worship leader lifted his voice. The choir and the congregation followed him, and so did I. The words I knew:

“O for a thousand tongues to sing, My great Redeemer’s praise, The glories of my God and King, The triumphs of His grace! My gracious Master and my God, Assist me to proclaim, To spread through all the earth abroad, The honors of Thy name.”

The meaning of the words took hold in my mind. I was to sing the praises of my Redeemer and He would assist me to do His will. Can you feel the words welling up and ready to burst your soul?

My wish to sing wasn’t a prayer yet God filled me with His answer. Though I wasn’t able to sing every word loud and clear, I sang His praises with all my heart.

As you put on your “Sunday best” prepare your heart to worship. Ask God to help you understand the words then sing with joy. Be bold as you proclaim God’s good news through song.

“May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous. May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. I long for your salvation, Lord, and your law gives me delight. Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me. I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.” Psalm 119:172-176

In Christian Love,
Berta

1 comment:

  1. I find it a good exercise to listen as we sing the words to our hymns and praise songs. I was at a special Easter week service. One hymn we had to sing was one I didn't know. It had an unusual cadence and tune. I found myself studying the words- there was a lot of theology in that hymn.

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