Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

Nothing can get my day off to a better start than an early walk around our neighborhood. I often plug in my ear phones and listen to some of my favorite praise music or some of those old, familiar hymns, and sometimes I quietly sing along. It puts an extra bounce in my step and helps take away any concerns or cares I may be feeling. And I soon feel such gratitude and peace. What is it about music that can just lift our souls and touch our hearts?

Amazingly, there is actually some credible scientific proof about the power music has over our minds and bodies. “According to the founder of The Institute for Music, Health and Education, music can communicate to us even when we’re not influenced by the words of a song. The human heartbeat is especially attuned to sound – changes in tempo and volume act as natural pacemakers. Breathing slows down or speeds up along with the music. It can have a direct effect on the function of the brain. It can slow down and equalize brain waves to create a meditative state, or it can energize brain waves  – quickening, the thinking process and enhancing creativity. Even the cells of your body respond to music. One study found that just 15 minutes of listening to music could increase levels of immune chemicals – vital to protect against disease and the release of cortisol (the stress hormone) dropped by up to 25%.

When God created us, He knew that this life would be filled with burdens and stress beyond our means to control. Isn’t it amazing that in His plans to help us with these times, He not only gave us His Word to dwell in our hearts, and His Spirit to live within us, but He also created music.

What a gift to bring us pleasure and joy, but also to calm our anxious spirits and soothe our souls. I am in awe of all the ways He has shown His love, care, and provision for us. Can you even imagine a world without music? What joy we would miss!

How grateful we should be for this blessing and the ability to lift our voices in song. What power music can have as it communicates thoughts and feelings, it inspires our imaginations, and it touches our hearts. It awakens memories and can give us comfort and hope. And if we are singing about God and His love, the reminder of His presence can help us rise above any painful or troubling circumstances we might have.

What a simple and pleasurable instruction to follow: “Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in our hearts to God.”

May we surround ourselves and our children with music that lifts our hearts and glorifies God, and may we sing about His goodness and grace. May we use the opportunities we have to share His message of love to others. And as we teach and encourage them with our songs, what a glorious message it will be!

Prayer

Thank you God for the gift of music as it fills our hearts and our lives with such peace and joy. May we use our voices in song to share with others about your love and grace. May the words about your abiding presence always “dwell richly in our hearts”.  Amen