Praising in Silence
All the earth will bow down to worship; all the earth will sing your glories forever!
Psalm 66:4 (TPT)
Last Sunday was Easter and everyone seemed to have a great time at church, all the kiddo's were decked out in Easter's finest dresses and little suits. Moms and dads were in larger suits and dresses, making sure family photos were capturing all the beautiful moments. As for me, well I was a balled up stress knot, terrified of loud noises and barely able to speak to people. A recent flare up of a health condition has left me pretty much unable to function independently; it's a great time to have it pop up, with an aunt, cousin, and my grandparents all staying with us for the holiday.
Nevertheless, Sunday was a better day, and as we were singing songs of worship to our risen King (even though I wore earplugs), I was finally able to relax a bit. As we started to sing an old song, "Worthy is the Lamb Who was Slain" (the internet calls it, Revelation Song, but I've never heard that), the part, "With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings," popped out at me. How does creation sing praise to God? Sure animals can make noises but what about plants, mountains, and oceans? If all the earth bows to worship and sings His glory, how do they do it without voices?
Almost instantly, I felt God's answer, they "sing" His praise by just being, they are in total harmony with their King. Their praise flows out of every part of who and what they are. Now I'm not going into a whole New Agey "Be one with creation" speech. Rather I'm saying that praise is not simply saying words in a song; it's within the very fiber of our being. A flower "sings" praise by it simply being a flower, exactly how God made it, colorful, beautiful, and uniquely one of a kind. Psalm 65:13 (TPT) states, The grazing meadows are covered with flocks, and the fertile valleys are clothed with grain, each one dancing and shouting for joy, creation's celebration! And they're all singing their songs of praise to you!
That verse is amazing but what really struck me was verse 1 of the same chapter, O God in Zion, to you even silence is praise! We "sing" our praises without ever speaking a word, they are lifted up in the everyday things we do, what our hearts and souls speak. Yes being able to sing aloud is wonderful, but when my speech fails, when I'm rendered almost silent, I'm still able to praise God. Even more, God hears it and loves it. My inability to form words does not stop my ability to praise my Creator.
Praise isn't just words in song, it's the essence of who we are. Praise is as natural to our souls as breathing is to our bodies. Sometimes it takes silence to finally hear our inner song of worship; to realize that praise is being in continual connection with our Creator. I look forward to the day when I'm able to "fully" participate in singing again, but it's crucial to know that I can praise even in the silence. It's a life-boat that leads me right in the Savior's arms and holds me there until I'm able to stand in the storm.
Nevertheless, Sunday was a better day, and as we were singing songs of worship to our risen King (even though I wore earplugs), I was finally able to relax a bit. As we started to sing an old song, "Worthy is the Lamb Who was Slain" (the internet calls it, Revelation Song, but I've never heard that), the part, "With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings," popped out at me. How does creation sing praise to God? Sure animals can make noises but what about plants, mountains, and oceans? If all the earth bows to worship and sings His glory, how do they do it without voices?
Almost instantly, I felt God's answer, they "sing" His praise by just being, they are in total harmony with their King. Their praise flows out of every part of who and what they are. Now I'm not going into a whole New Agey "Be one with creation" speech. Rather I'm saying that praise is not simply saying words in a song; it's within the very fiber of our being. A flower "sings" praise by it simply being a flower, exactly how God made it, colorful, beautiful, and uniquely one of a kind. Psalm 65:13 (TPT) states, The grazing meadows are covered with flocks, and the fertile valleys are clothed with grain, each one dancing and shouting for joy, creation's celebration! And they're all singing their songs of praise to you!
That verse is amazing but what really struck me was verse 1 of the same chapter, O God in Zion, to you even silence is praise! We "sing" our praises without ever speaking a word, they are lifted up in the everyday things we do, what our hearts and souls speak. Yes being able to sing aloud is wonderful, but when my speech fails, when I'm rendered almost silent, I'm still able to praise God. Even more, God hears it and loves it. My inability to form words does not stop my ability to praise my Creator.
Praise isn't just words in song, it's the essence of who we are. Praise is as natural to our souls as breathing is to our bodies. Sometimes it takes silence to finally hear our inner song of worship; to realize that praise is being in continual connection with our Creator. I look forward to the day when I'm able to "fully" participate in singing again, but it's crucial to know that I can praise even in the silence. It's a life-boat that leads me right in the Savior's arms and holds me there until I'm able to stand in the storm.
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