Author: William Dupley
I read a devotional recently by Wendy Tomlie called Songs of Praise and victory to our God. Wendy highlighted that when people faced trials or joy, they wrote songs. She highlighted:
Her insights got me thinking about what is the value of a song.
The value of a song
The Lord encourages in Psalm 96 to “Sing unto the Lord.” I wondered why the Lord would encourage us to sing. Why sing? Wouldn’t talking be good enough? Then I discovered the following benefits of singing[i]
- Physical Benefits
- Singing strengthens the immune system
- Singing is a workout
- Singing improves your posture
- Singing helps with sleep
- Mental and Emotional Benefits
- Singing is a natural anti-depressant
- Singing lowers stress levels
- Singing improves mental alertness
- Social Benefits
- Singing can widen your circle of friends
- Singing boosts your confidence
- Singing broadens communication skills
- Singing increases your ability to appreciate accomplished singers
So clearly, the Lord encourages us to sing because it is good for us. Isn’t that just like our Heavenly Father, He is always looking for ways to build us up? I love this guy.
I talked about my experience with the value of personal worship in song in one of my previous blogs, but today I felt compelled to expand on other aspects of worship.
Worship as a lifestyle
Many images come to mind when we think of worship. In the Christian faith, pictures of raising hands and bowing down are common. In most Christian worship services, music is involved. Yet, in the Jewish faith, worship is not limited to congregational expressions of praise using song but refers to a person’s entire life. It is often more important to practice faith at home. For example, this is the case for the practices related to Shabbat.
In the Jewish faith, a “religious Jew tries to bring holiness into everything they do, by doing it as an act that praises God, and honours everything God has done. For such a person, the whole life becomes an act of worship”.
Jesus talked about true worship when he spoke to a Samaritan woman in John 4:23,24.
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Jesus further states the role of lifestyle in worship in Matt 5:16.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
The word “deeds” in this verse means work, task, employment; a deed, action; that which is wrought or made.” He is not talking about philanthropy alone. He is referring to everything we do. When we do philanthropy, no one is even to know. So, according to this verse, we glorify God when we do excellent work in the workplace. I feel this broadens the concept of worship.
Choices illustrate who we worship
God receives glory when His people act like He is in charge and honor Him with their words, responses, and deeds. True worship is seen in our lives, lifestyle, words, and actions. They declare whom we worship.
A child honours their parents when they do what their parents say, even when they are not there. The same thing is true with God. God is honoured when we do what He tells us to do, even when no one is watching. Here are a few examples of how not to be a true worshiper.
- A person who sings songs of praise but cheats on their employer is not a true worshipper.
- A person who worships in church but is not kind or faithful is not a true worshipper
- A person who yells at their spouse and demands to be served but sings songs in church is not a true worshipper
Those who truly worship in Spirit and truth demonstrate their relationship with God daily in every situation. Their worship of the Lord is not contained to a church building or limited to religious songs.
Worship as a Living sacrifice
Rom 12:1 challenges us with another aspect of worship.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Paul says we are to worship the Lord with our bodies as living sacrifices. When I read this, I ask myself, how do I do this?
Our body does nothing on its own. Our hearts drive it. Matt 12:34 says, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Rom 12:2 says to not conform to this world and choose to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. So these scriptures have more to do with worshiping the Lord with our heart/soul/mind.
I think we worship Lord as a living sacrifice when our heart/soul/mind desires a relationship with our Heavenly Father, and we do what our Heavenly Father has told us to do.
Close
Different people will sense God’s presence with different music and songs. We need to be careful not to think the worship style we like is better than another. One music style is not more anointed than another. Music is amoral. Our spirit responds to the music we like. My parents preferred the hymns of the church played by an organ. I prefer intimate songs that are more guitar lead. Other people I know prefer loud declaration songs. The Lord loves them all. He loves to hear His children sing. He understands the value of the song.
Every culture has its style, and when we get to heaven, we will hear all forms and styles of musical worship, from rock to indigenous people’s drum circles.
Musical worship format and style are a personal choice. Lifestyle worship is not. It is common for all. We are challenged to:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”[ii]
Worship is loving God with our hearts, soul, mind, and strengths, not just our voice. It is a type of romance. When we love someone, they see it in our actions because actions speak louder than words.
We all make mistakes, and we all miss the mark. The Lord forgives us, but I believe we need to examine our lives and commit ourselves to be true worshippers and demonstrate it in our daily lifestyle, for this is true worship.
Yours
Bill
About the Author: William Dupley
Bill and Sue Dupley have been ministering for over 35 years, preaching and leading worship on five continents. Together they minister renewal and teach adults and children how to hear the voice of God. Bill and Sue believe that the supernatural should be natural for all believers and that every believer can impact their world for the Kingdom of God as they hear God’s will and follow His leading.
Bill and Sue are certified facilitators for Communion with God Ministries and are affiliated with Singing Waters Ministries. They have conducted seminars at Catch the Fire, Mission Fest, Releasers of Life, Iris Ministries, Singing Waters, and many other global churches. Their passion is for God’s family to know their Heavenly Father and to hear His voice so that they may live in the fullness of the gifts and the freedom that Jesus bought for them.
You can contact them at: the.secret.place@cogeco.ca
Cover Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
[i] Singing Health Benefits: 11 Surprising Reasons It’s Good for You (takelessons.com)
[ii] Mark 12:30
