One of my greatest ongoing struggles as a Christian has been singing during corporate worship. I’m not a very good singer (though I’ve been told I do decent rendition of Radiohead’s “Creep”), but I don’t really mind if people can or can’t hear me. My difficulty is I have a hard time connecting with so many of the songs that are popular to sing at the moment.
There are some that fill my heart with joy, and I want to sing them loudly and joyfully. But honestly? Those are few and far between. Most I find myself trying to sing, stopping, considering the lyrics and whether they are either biblical or coherent[1. There have been more than a few times where I’ve turned to Emily and said, “Is it me, or did that make absolutely no sense?”]
Maybe I’m too critical… (To some degree, yeah, probably.)
Nevertheless, when I don’t feel like singing, there are songs that I find myself starting to think about when I don’t feel like I can sing what everyone else is. It’s one I actually find myself singing as I’m getting ready for work in the morning. I first heard it at the close of a prayer meeting with Peter Jones at a TruthXchange event about five years ago. It was written in 1674, and is really simple—it has four verses and it’s simply an encouragement to offer praise.
Here are the words:
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
What I love about this simple hymn is how it focuses us on the Trinity: God—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—from whom all blessings flow. And the weight of it is an encouragement to offer him praise. Why? Not because of a treatise outlining his deeds, but primarily because of who he is.
To me, this is a beautiful encouragement, especially in those times when I really don’t feel like singing. When I’ve had a rough night’s sleep, or the morning’s been a nightmare (the Sunday freak outs are the best), or whatever the case may be. And what’s fantastic is, it helps. Its words reorient my mind toward my Lord and Savior, and off of my other issues—the rough sleep, the difficult morning, or my fear of having to sing something that doesn’t make a lot of sense at church. It helps me to offer praise personally and meaningfully, to recognize the reasons I have to sing his praises. And there are so many.
Perhaps you’re like me, and you’re going to church and not really feeling into singing. Maybe you’re frustrated with the choice of songs. Maybe you’ve slept terribly. Maybe you’ve had a big fight with the kids this morning, and the last thing you really want to do is sing. Can I encourage you? Read these words—better yet, sing them:
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
