Session 16

You always have a reason to sing

From 2 Chronicles: A 28-Day Devotional

Have you ever wondered why church gatherings start with singing to God? It’s not just about the cool music and talented voices. Worship opens our hearts to hear from God and sets the stage for us to experience His presence.

We see an example of this in 2 Chronicles 5. The first thing the Israelites did once the ark was finished was worship God, saying “He is good. His love endures forever.” The temple where they were worshiping became so filled with God's presence that the priests could not even preach!

When we sing worship songs, we invite God into our hearts, minds, and circumstances. As we focus on how good God is, our minds are opened to hear what He has to say. And as we sing along with other believers, the shared experience unites us as a church.

Even when we don’t feel like singing, we can still worship. When circumstances don’t call for a celebration, we can celebrate God for who He is and what He has done. Psalm 95:1-5 gives us an example of why we can be thankful to God at all times and in all seasons:

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

   let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving...

For the Lord is the great God,

   the great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth,

   and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The sea is his, for he made it,

   and his hands formed the dry land.”

As Christians, we have received an eternal kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28). No matter what we are going through right now, the best is always yet to come and that is a reason to celebrate!

Reflect:

• It is easy to focus on what’s going wrong instead of what’s going right. What is one blessing you can thank God for today?
• What’s one area of your life where you have seen God work or felt His love?
• What’s one way that thinking about God's goodness changes your view of what you’re facing today?