Singing As We Pray

One of the great pleasures of each season, but particularly spring and summer, are the sounds you hear when you take a walk along a wooded path or even just around the neighborhood.  On one particular path near a local lake the sounds change every few hundred feet.  As you walk along, one set of sounds fade and another set emerge.  I love the sound of the wind in the trees, water flowing over rocks, little song birds. 

I’ll probably never live down the day – and it’s more than a decade ago now – when a couple of friends and I were walking in a wooded area on the Sunshine Coast here in British Columbia.  We came to a small circular cleared spot in the woods and it was amazing how the wind made so many different sounds in different parts of that little area.  The two friends that I was with thought I had “gone bonkers” as I hushed them to listen to the sound “over there” and then “over there” in another sector of the trees.  It actually was quite wonderful.

I will always remember sitting on the balcony of my aunt’s apartment near Spring Water Park in Ontario as she would identify this bird and that one from the sounds she heard.  I wish I knew what she knew.  Even though I live on the West Coast of Canada, there are a number of bird calls that I recognize from a chart that the state of Minnesota puts out of various bird calls in their state.  I’ll put a link to that page in the notes below the video.

Minnesota Bird songs:  https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mcvmagazine/bird_songs_interactive/index.html

The Black-capped Chickadee has several calls and one of them is a lovely two tone call.  There are certain trails we walk on where we are likely to hear this call.  My friend Evelyn calls it the “Jesus” call and we always smile when we hear it.

What sounds are we contributing to this symphony of praise to God each day?  I love the song mentioned here in the Bible:

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.  Psalm 40:1-3

I know this song well and rejoice to sing as I remember how dark and dreary life was until Jesus rescued me, as these verses say – pulled me out of the mud and mire and set my feet on a rock – a firm place to stand.  I’ve enjoyed singing all my life and particularly those songs that remind us of God’s care for us and His companionship throughout all of life’s experiences.

There is something so soothing about music and we often sing lullabies to little babies to try to get them back to sleep, don’t we?  I wonder if this is how God wants us to bring rest and peace to people in our frantic and chaotic world.  We know a safety and the protection of God in our lives.  In uncertain and fearful times, we need to sing that song so others can find the peace of Christ as well.

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.  Psalm 63:6-8

Heavenly Father, we want to sing Your song every day, in good time and difficult.  You are consistently good and kind.  Your protection is sure no matter how chaotic things get around us.  As these verses instruct us we will:

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.  Psalm 96:1-3

The Bible is full of songs so I think it must delight Your heart, God, when we sing.  We may not have the best voice in the world but we know that we can sing Your praise today and every day because You are a loving God, a powerful Saviour, and a true refuge for our soul. 

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.  Psalm 5:11

Well, let’s crank up the tunes and let’s sing our gratitude and praise to our powerful and loving God all through this day.