praying effectively: Sing for Joy (Ps.33)

(Psalm 33:1-22)

Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones; praise is becoming to the upright.
2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.
3 Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.
4 For the word of the Lord is upright, and all His work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

13 The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men;
14 From His dwelling place He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works.
16 The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength.
17 A horse is a false hope for victory; nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness,
19 To deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name.
22 Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in You.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that the entire earth should fear the Lord, standing in awe of Him (33:8)
- that we praise the Lord (33:1)
- that we sing for joy (33:1)
- that we are creative with our singing and accompaniments, using a variety of instruments (33:2)
- that we sing and play songs skillfully, giving God our very best efforts (33:3)
- that we sing new and different songs so that we do not get stuck in style ruts (33:3)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for music and how You have created us to respond emotionally to music!  Give us a good attitude towards singing new and different songs, that we do not get stuck in style ruts.  Help us to realize also that someone's gift will be song writing, and if we resist singing new songs, that would be quenching the Holy Spirit.  Let us always appreciate the work that goes into writing, arranging and singing new songs in order to glorify You.

As You are the Creator, we have been created in Your image... so we should create.  Inspire and guide the music writers and leaders.  Keep their motives pure.

And since not everyone can write songs or lead in singing, help us realize that we are all creative in different ways - to be used in different areas of service.  We are part of a huge teamwork effort to build up and edify the Church body, as well as to bring glory to You!  Let everything we do bring glory to You!  Amen.