By Judy Villanueva

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
 Let the sea roar, and all it contains; Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
 Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord, for He is coming.  (Psalm 96:11-13)

But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, for You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress.  (Psalm 59:16)

If ever there were a tree that could sing, it would definitely be the aspen tree!  When spring arrives it unfurls its leaves and, almost as if in worship, its heart-like leaves dance in the wind and quake in harmony with its piney neighbors. The sight and sound of it draw me into immediate and joyful praise!  What makes your soul sing with joy?  Think about it.  What fills your heart and spills over into spontaneous and grateful praise? Singing God’s praises rises up from the good within us.  According to CS Lewis, praise is “inner health made audible.”  He also said:  “I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation.”

As I read these Psalms I notice that the “singer” not only determines that his soul shall sing, but also works to inspire his soul by cultivating gratitude and joy over God’s victories, strength, and bountiful provision!  Once again, we bump into the spiritual practice of  living awake and aware.  If we do not notice God’s activity in our days or His lovingkindness throughout our lives, if we do not work to inspire our souls with the wonders of God around us, how we will ever be moved to sing?

If hurry and worry usurp all of our attention, we may find our hands full, our minds troubled, and our souls void of joyful melodies.

How does your life sing to God? Does it?  Aspens need simply be the trees that God designed them to be in order to catch the wind and quake a happy tune. Our challenge, as Christians, is to be willing to be the individuals God created us to be and avail ourselves to being filled with the breath of His Spirit.  We don’t need to be a spruce or maple or  — just ourselves given to God.  

It is not our perfections that inspire us to sing but rather, awakening to the Holy that gives birth to song.

We were made for singing!   Start with a prayer and ask God to help you wake up and notice His goodness around you.  Then, take a deep breath…and tell your soul to sing!

“Lord, help me to sing!  I want to notice your love in this day and tomorrow, too!  Let joy and gratitude rise up and jump into a song that praises your name.   Amen.”

What about you?

What inspires your soul to sing?

Are you learning to notice and enjoy God ?

How does your life sing to God?   In other words, how do you express joy and appreciation for the gifts of life around you?

“Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord, for He is coming.”

Worship