Even When I Don't feel Like It

“Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear! Break forth into singing and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife,” saith the Lord. Isaiah 54:1

What a strange request to make of the woman without a child.  The Lords instruction to her was to break forth into song.  The Amplified Bible reads to “shout for joy”, break forth into joyful shouting and rejoice.

I have, at times, had what I call “break out” singing sessions.  They were usually on a bright sunny day when I felt everything was going my way, a time when I felt carefree and unburdened.  Not at all the picture I see of the situation here in Isaiah 54.  For the Woman without child to sing would be asking her to sing not as a result of her circumstances but in spite of her circumstances.  When God makes us a promise through His word, we can be sure that He who is faithful will accomplish an outcome with our very best interest at heart. Here the barren woman (a picture of Israel) was told that her children (speaking of her spiritual children) would be more than the married wife.  Her song was a faith response to the word spoken. 

To sing joyfully when we don’t “feel” like it is a beautiful expression of faith-based worship.  It is a sacrifice of praise that is pleasing to our Lord.  God is not oblivious to your circumstances; He is there to help you and to fulfill every promise and bring you to the fulfillment of your wildest dreams. 

Psalms 126:1-3 says it like this:

When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

Do not be afraid today to lift up your voice in a shout of praise for the promise yet unfulfilled.  God has great things for you.  Let your faith arise and your song fill the void.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I lift up my voice to you today in praise and adoration.  I shout for joy for the promise I wait for.  Thank you for your faithfulness as I praise in advance for my personal breakthrough.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Finding Your Song

Psalm 89:1 “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.”

I have always loved to sing.  From a young age I have been involved with children’s choirs at church, singing and playing at different times in my life.  There was a time I might break out in song just for the joy of it.

There came a moment in my life where I lost my song. I just couldn’t sing.  It wasn’t within me.  Life had thrown a lot of heart ache and sorrow our way.  Yesterdays devotion by Gina describes that time.  I was asked by our son to speak at the funeral of the grandson that we lost.  I went home that evening upset.  I was upset with life; I was upset with God and I didn’t know what I was going to do.  It had been several months since I had lost my song because of other things and I felt like giving up. 

Gina and I had been getting up at 5:30 every morning to pray together and when she started to rise that morning, I said that “I really didn’t feel like praying”.  She got up and went into the den to pray.  I laid there angry at God!!

Finally, after a few minutes the guilt overtook me and I got up to go into the den to pray with Gina.  As I was walking into the den, I heard the Lord speak to me very quietly, very gently.  He said “sing”.  I said, “Lord, I can’t sing, I haven’t had a song in my heart for months and You want me to sing, now?  I can’t.” 

Yet there it was again, “Sing”.  So, I started singing a song that was popular at the time, one that was the favorite of my grandkids.

I started singing, “bless the Lord oh my soul, oh my soul, worship His Holy name.  Sing like never before, oh my soul and worship His Holy name.”

As I sang the presence of the Lord came into the room.  He reminded me that regardless of life’s situations He was with me, loving me, keeping me when everything else seemed to be falling apart.  He was/is the immovable rock upon which I could/can stand.

That morning as I began to sing, His faithfulness came shining through.  He touched my heart and filled my life with joy in the middle of heartbreak.

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth I will make know Your faithfulness to all generations.”

He is faithful!!! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank You for your faithfulness.  You are faithful even when we fail.  Even when we forget.  Even when our heart has lost hope.  Help me walk in Your love.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.