When We Pray And Sing Songs Of Praises Our Spirit Will Be Lifted From The Sorrows Of Suffering Into The Joys Of Victory Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. (James 5:13) When We Pray - https://youtube/watch?v=0R-xpm1aiYM The Apostle James reminds us that during our suffering we should pray and during period of joyfulness we should sing songs of praises. It is so interesting that during our periods of suffering instead to talking to the Lord we sometimes complain. So we have difficulties at work and we complain. We have family problems and we complain. People are backbiting about us at church and we complain. We just seem to like complaining and complaining and complaining. And guess what? Instead of complaining to God we complain to fellow human being. We somehow can never see the glass half full. It just always seems half empty. This morning the Lord is reminding us that we should talk to Him during these periods of suffering. You see, He may have a very good reason for allowing us to be in this situation. And He is the only who can truly give us the strength to bear and to find the way of escape so that we can live through the difficulties. James also reminds us that during our period of joyfulness that we should sing songs of praises. I wonder why James had to make this statement. Could it be that when things are going good for us we don’t really see the need to praise the Lord? Examine your life for a moment and see if you really rejoice in the good times. Only those who are willing to rejoice during the good times will accept that God is in control of their lives. During this time of earth history we must not forget God’s analysis of His people. This is what Jesus said about the last day church people. In Rev. 3:15, 17 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot…. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” When we are in a state of joyfulness and everything is going right, we don’t believe that we need anything from God. I pray that we will ask God to help us to continue to pray during our periods of suffering and sing songs of praises during our periods of happiness. Song is a weapon that we can always use against discouragement. As we thus open the heart to the sunlight of the Saviours presence, we shall have health and His blessing. (Ministry of Healing, pg. 254 – Ellen G. White) The history of the songs of the Bible is full of suggestion as to the uses and benefits of music and song. Music is often perverted to serve purposes of evil, and it thus becomes one of the most alluring agencies of temptation. But, rightly employed, it is a precious gift of God, designed to uplift the thoughts to high and noble themes, to inspire and elevate the soul. As the children of Israel, journeying through the wilderness, cheered their way by the music of sacred song, so God bids His children today gladden their pilgrim life. There are few means more effective for fixing His words in the memory than repeating them in song. And such song has wonderful power. It has power to subdue rude and uncultivated natures; power to quicken thought and to awaken sympathy, to promote harmony of action, and to banish the gloom and foreboding that destroy courage and weaken effort. It is one of the most effective means of impressing the heart with spiritual truth. How often to the soul hard-pressed and ready to despair, memory recalls some word of Gods--the long-forgotten burden of a childhood song,--and temptations lose their power, life takes on new meaning and new purpose, and courage and gladness are imparted to other souls! The value of song as a means of education should never be lost sight of. Let there be singing in the home, of songs that are sweet and pure, and there will be fewer words of censure and more of cheerfulness and hope and joy. Let there be singing in the school, and the pupils will be drawn closer to God, to their teachers, and to one another. As a part of religious service, singing is as much an act of worship as is prayer. Indeed, many a song is prayer. If the child is taught to realize this, he will think more of the meaning of the words he sings and will be more susceptible to their power. As our Redeemer leads us to the threshold of the Infinite, flushed with the glory of God, we may catch the themes of praise and thanksgiving from the heavenly choir round about the throne; and as the echo of the angels song is awakened in our earthly homes, hearts will be drawn closer to the heavenly singers. Heavens communion begins on earth. We learn here the keynote of its praise. (Education, pg. 167, 168 – Ellen G. White)
Posted on: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 12:01:45 +0000