Livin Lively

By Peggy Lively

            I was singing in church one Sunday morning when a gentleman I know came in and joined his wife in the row behind me. I have encountered this man on numerous occasions at church and at our children’s school, and I have never heard him speak more than about ten words. He is very timid and quiet and often just nods and smiles instead of speaking. But as soon as he stepped into the worship service, he burst forth with the loudest, most joyous singing I have heard in a long time. I couldn’t believe my ears! I kept fighting the urge to turn around and look to make sure it was really him. It was such a blessing to hear this quiet, unassuming gentleman totally letting loose when it came to praising God.  

            The Bible, especially the book of Psalms, is full of songs of praise. Many verses encourage us to sing praises to God even when our circumstances are difficult. Paul and Silas exemplify this for us when they are imprisoned for their faith. They could have become angry, frustrated or discouraged, but they chose to keep singing praises to God even in prison:

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”  

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.

            As I read this, I saw three important reminders of the power of singing praises: First, other people are watching and listening. (“The other prisoners were listening to them.”) Second, as a result of singing praises to God, especially in difficult circumstances, I may get to see Him work in a miraculous way. (“Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.”) And third, my praises may open up an opportunity for me to share Jesus with others that need to be saved. (“Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house… [The jailer] was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.”)

            You may never know who is watching and listening. Someone else may benefit from your song, just as I was blessed by this man’s song in church. And if you don’t feel like singing praises today, try reading them. Go to the Psalms and begin to praise God through those verses: “I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” (Psalm 146:2) “I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.” (Psalm 108:3)

“No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that refuge clinging;

Since Christ is Lord of Heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?”

-Robert Lowry