Sheet Music: https://www.jasonsilver.com/music/116-psalm-22-23-31
Patreon: https://jasonsilver.com/donate
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/psalm-22-23-31/1440670834?i=1440671261
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1oFly3QUxmlgZpRKuNntHQ

-----


I asked my wife, Joanne today, "Do you have any ideas for a blog to write to go with this week's Psalm?"

After she listened through it, she said, "You know, you and I are drawn more to the melancholy, sad songs. We like the worship that pulls us up from despair when we feel hopeless. We sing out with songs like, 'I am a sinner, if it's not one thing, it's another.' But when I hear this kind of exuberant praise song with bouncy music, I have a hard time relating to it."

For a moment, I didn't know what to say. I was thinking, "Okay, that's no help."

But then she continued, "This is exactly the kind of song we need to sing, even if we don't feel it! God deserves our praise!"

As always, Joanne nailed it. It's so true. A few weeks ago we realized that nearly all of the worship songs in our congregation's repertoire were slow. We decided to set a goal to change that, and to start introducing songs which worship our God in a celebratory way!

Even if we don't feel like singing, and even if we're in a difficult period of time, God is no less deserving. And many times, when we go through the motions of praise and celebration, we take command of a downcast attitude and find our feelings following our lead!

Not just that, but It's good for us to look for things to be thankful for. It's good for us to develop a discipline of praise, and to remember that God is always bigger than our problems.

None of this is simple, it's certainly not easy. I'm still on a journey myself, but I know where I'm headed! I'm getting my eyes of myself, I'm looking up at the beauty of this world, I'm finding things to be thankful for!

Want to join me?

-----

Psalm 22
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him;
stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he did not despise or abhor
the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me,
but heard when I cried to him.
25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the Lord.
May your hearts live for ever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the Lord;
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before him.
28 For dominion belongs to the Lord,
and he rules over the nations.
29 To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
and I shall live for him.
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord,
31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
saying that he has done it.

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

#scripturesongs #psalm22:23-31