Do you want to feel better? Sing! Sounds crazy right? Research shows that singing releases specific endorphins in the brain attributed to happiness and joy. We often trick ourselves into thinking we have to “be in the mood”. This is a sneaky little lie. If singing chemically and spiritually changes your mood, then waiting to sing keeps you stuck in a funk. Test it sometime. If you’re already bummed out, having an Eeyore kind of a day, what do you have to lose?
You don’t even have to sing in tune to benefit. I’ve been applying this principle to my least favorite tasks like grocery shopping and laundry. I put on my favorite worship music and my headphones and sing through the monotony. Praising God in this way is powerful. He transforms our mental, emotional and physical state with a song of praise. This is especially dynamic when the lyrics come from the bible.
If you don’t believe me, trust God in this. Worshipping the Lord is a theme that we share with angels. “On earth as it is in heaven” (Mathew 6:10) is literal. We get a sneak peak into the throne room of heaven as John shares The Revelation of Jesus Christ in chapter four. Why wait for heaven to start singing praise to God?
Worship heals. Singing to God in midst of pain may not change the circumstances, but it will change your heart. David knew this and he shared an amazing song of thanksgiving to the Lord in Psalm 105. I challenge you this week to be risky, sing when your blue! No matter how you sound, let the joy of the Lord be known. Sing about what God’s done. Sing about His wonderful deeds. Watch what happens. Notice the Holy Spirit alive in you.
- “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done. Sing to Him; yes, sing His praises. Tell everyone about His wonderful deeds. Exult in His holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord.” (Psalm 105: 1-3, NLT)
- “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying; ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.'” (Revelation 4:8-10, NKJV)
- “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him all His hosts!” (Psalm 148: 1-2, NKJV)
