Read
Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
Job 32:4
Reflect
When I was a teenager, I one day discovered that there were people who actually spent all of their time making music that praised and glorified Jesus Christ. Up to that point, the thought had never occurred to me. Like most kids my age, I was into the music that ended up on Casey Kasem’s charts.
But my Mom took me to a Christian bookstore (another amazing discovery), and I ventured into the music section. In front of me were dozens of LPs and cassettes (because this was in the days of the dinosaurs before there were CDs, and definitely before the invention of MP3s and digital downloads). Keith Green. Petra. Sweet Comfort Band. Second Chapter of Acts. Glad. (The band, not the trash bag.)
All of these and more ended up on my record player and in my cassette deck. I found that listening to Christian music could be fulfilling. But more importantly, I learned that praising God was not only important – it was commanded. The God who made the world from nothing and who holds everything together desires and demands our praise. It’s why He made us – so that we could be in a relationship together. He even made a way for us to spend eternity together, if only we’ll accept His Son, Jesus, as our Savior.
Today, I’m still listening to Christian music, though my playlist is more likely to include Newsboys, Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman, Tenth Avenue North, the Afters and Kristian Stanfill. (Though as I write this, I’m listening to Glad!) But what hasn’t changed is that I’m still praising God, because He still deserves it. Regardless of our circumstances, God is worthy of my and your praise.
Today, spend some time letting God know how important He is to you. Tell Him just what He means to you, and maybe even lift a song of praise His way.
(And if you’re interested in listening to some of the best of Christian music today, check out our weekly Top 40 and our updated playlist on Spotify.)
Reflection copyright © 2021 Doug DeBolt.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
