Daily Thought for Tuesday, August 16th

August 16, 2011

Musicality

Today’s Thought:

“The sweetest music is not the oratorio, but in the human voice when it speaks from its instant life tones of tenderness, truth or courage.”  – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today’s Quotes:

“Music, the greatest good that mortals know,

And all of heaven we have below.” – Joseph Addison

Today’s Question

“Is not music the food of love?” – Richard Sheridan

Today’s Bible Verses:                     Psalms 33:1-3, Psalms 40:3 & Psalm 96:1-4

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.  Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.  Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.  Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.  Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“After silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.”– Aldous Huxley

“There’s within my heart a melody
Jesus whispers sweet and low,…
… It fills my every longing,
Keeps me singing as I go.”   - Luther B. Bridgers (lyrics from ‘He Keeps Me Singing’) 

Music and singing are crucial to our expressions of love and adoration as we declare our praises for the Lord.

There is always more to worship than just praising in song; for worship is about the way we live: but when it comes to the activity of praising the most common outlet is through music.

There are many different styles and approaches to music but regardless of the stylization the important thing is to remember true praise comes from the heart.

And as Michael W. Smith sang in this song of praise:

“When the music fades
And all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear
You're looking into my heart
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus.” – Matt Redman (lyrics from ‘The Heart of Worship’)

“In a world of peace and love, music would be the universal language.”  - Henry David Thoreau

May we join with David in saying, “I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.” The Bible (Psalms 144:9) 

Whatever form or style we may prefer: however we may choose to express our songs of praise, may they always be from the heart and all about Jesus.

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may I keep on singing from the heart and may my songs be all about you.