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Spending Time With God in Song
Bible study on spending time with God.

This series of articles has been devoted to examining Biblical ways of spending time with God. In this article, we will consider spending time with God in song. Immediately you may think about singing in a church service. But, singing is commanded to each individual Christian for the benefit of self and other Christians. Singing should not be reserved for church services alone, but should constantly fill our hearts with thoughts of heaven, praise, and thanksgiving.

Christians are commanded to sing. This command is as binding as any other, but it may be one of the most neglected aspects of daily Christian living. Jesus gave us an example. After having instituted the Supper that would memorialize His death, He and the apostles sang a hymn (Matt. 7:30). Paul also leaves us an example. When beaten and imprisoned in the "inner prison" with Silas, Paul and Silas are praying and singing hymns at midnight with their feet fastened in stocks (Acts 16:16-25). What did the apostle and Silas do in times of great trial, tribulation, and persecution? They prayed and sang hymns.

In Colossians 3:16 we read: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." In this passage we have the command for Christians to sing. But, also notice the importance of singing in relationship to daily living.

First, through song the word of Christ dwells in us richly in all wisdom (Col. 3:16). There are many memory courses for sale, but God introduces "singing" as the perfect memory expansion technique for the human race. Singing is a wonderful memory technique. If you are not convinced, just try it on a young child. Recently I helped our five year old memorize her cafeteria number by singing the four digit number to the tune of "happy birthday." Not only does singing bring words to remembrance, but singing also helps us quickly focus upon peripheral thoughts surrounding the words of a song. For example, you may not remember all of the words to "Amazing Grace" or "The Old Rugged Cross." But as you think of the tune and perhaps a few of the words, your mind quickly turns to previous thoughts associated with God's grace and Christ's cross. And perhaps most important, notice that wisdom is developed through song by having the word of Christ dwelling (ever present) in our hearts.

Secondly, by singing we teach and admonish one another in addition to singing to the Lord (Col. 3:16). As again exemplified by "Amazing Grace", we teach each other about the saving grace of God which saves a "wretch like me." And, we admonish one another that it "Twas grace that has bro't me safe thus far And grace will lead me home." What wonderful thoughts fill my mind upon remembering such a powerful and meaningful song.

Thirdly, notice the heart of the one who is singing. He will have grace in his heart (Col. 3:16). Think of it like this: If a Christian is worshipping God by singing and making melody in his heart to the Lord (Eph. 5:19), by allowing the word of Christ to richly dwell in his soul through song (Col. 3:16), and by singing with understanding (I Cor. 14:15), the result is a graceful heart. No one's heart could have ill will toward God or man, but he will have a gracious heart filled with spiritual thoughts of heaven, eternal life, and God's grace toward all men.

Now turn your thoughts to James 5:13 which says: "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms." It is easy to pray when we are suffering. But when life is great and we are cheerful, prayer is much more difficult because we do not feel an imposing need to call God to our aid. Knowing this, James commands Christians, when cheerful, to sing.

Many songs are prayers. By singing when we are cheerful, we keep the avenue of prayer open - imploring God to our aid while giving Him continual praise and thanks from our lips. "This Is My Father's World" is a traditional song exemplifying prayerful praise to God - creator and sustainer of all physical and spiritual kingdoms. Likewise, "My Faith Looks Up to Thee" exemplifies a prayerful song saying: "My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine; Now hear me while I pray, Take all my sins away, O let me from this day Be wholly Thine."

Now take a moment and examine your daily life in respect to singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Remember that the command to sing is to us each individually - apart from any "musical" quality. If you are like me, you should be singing more. We need to set aside time for singing to the Lord. Our songs to God should not only be while we are alone, but also with family and friends of like precious faith. During busy times of the day, we must keep a spiritual song in our mind so that we are absorbed with spiritual things. Of all this, the net result will be: a richer life, a closer walk with God, a gracious heart, and a rich indwelling of the word of Christ.