What Is Your Favorite Song?

When I was growing up, my grandmother was the organist for Leesburg United Methodist Church. Her idea of a good time was to have my brothers and me gather around the piano and sing hymns. We would sing and sing and sing. We boldly would say to others that we knew every hymn in the hymnbook.

Today in many churches the hymnbook is no longer used, and much of the music in worship services is contemporary. But the same thing is true – we stand and sing, and if the song is new, we begin humming the tune and it often sticks with us.

God knew the power of music, and He told Moses to “write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it.” (Deuteronomy 31:19) God knew that long after Moses was gone, His people would rebel and worship other gods. So God told Moses, “This song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants.” (v. 21)

In previous devotionals I’ve mentioned my mother having Alzheimer’s. In the final stages, she couldn’t remember my name, but she could sing along with songs on the radio. Songs are nearly impossible to forget. We benefit from songs that tell us about Jesus and encourage our faith. Ephesians 5:15-19 tells us to speak to one another with psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit.

Songs can be an indicator of the direction of our heart. Do the words lift up the name of Jesus? Do we sing wholeheartedly? What we sing influences what we believe! Keep your radio tuned in to music about Jesus. Sing the words over and over again! What we sing influences what we believe, so choose wisely and sing loudly!

Prayer – Father, we sing the songs of the church to be reminded of Jesus and His life given for each of us. As we sing the new and old songs, allow us to follow You in all ways! Amen.

Deuteronomy 31:22 – “So Moses wrote down this song that day and taught it to the Israelites.”

Author: The Rev. Tommy Herndon
Photos: Kelly Sikkema & Tim Cooper, courtesy of Unsplash