Psalm 150:1a – Praise the Lord. (NIV)

I got a scare the other night. I was outside throwing scraps into the chicken yard when I heard the strangest sound. I stopped what I was doing. I listened. I heard it again, and then again. It was coming from the main corral. What is that noise? I wondered. Whatever it was, I didn't like the sound of it. Laying down the scrap bowl, I headed toward the corral, eyeing each of the animals within sight, looking for any problems. The strange sound continued. Arriving at the corral, I spied the ponies in the feed barn. Standing together, Frankie seemed almost protective of Mama, as she stretched out her neck and coughed. The cough was the strange sound that I had never heard before.

I called a neighbour as soon as I went back to the house. He said that horses may cough if the hay is too dusty or dry. Another neighbour told me that if the hay is sprinkled with water, it can prevent this problem — sound advice from long-time horse owners.

As I digested this new information, my mind strayed to the fact that sometimes, for me, the reading of Scripture can get pretty dusty and dry, too. In truth, there are days when I really just don't want to read any at all. It's almost like my mind coughs it aside in favour of wandering away to find other thoughts and ideas to chew on, a happening which I have found to be quite scary, as it made me wonder what was becoming of me as a Christian.

After pondering this dilemma for quite some time, however, I discovered a solution. On dusty days, I choose to water the dryness of simple reading with the rippling, flowing notes of music. I sing. I sing hymns and choruses. I strum on my omnichord. I praise the Lord. After all, hymns and choruses are based on the truth of the Word. In fact, some of them are taken straight from the pages of Scripture. And as I sing and strum, the Word becomes alive and vibrant once again within my heart and mind.

Psalm 33:1-3 – Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skilfully, and shout for joy. (NIV)

Prayer: Father God, thank You for the gift of music and how it has the ability to whet our appetites for Your Word in new and vibrant ways. Bless us with songs of praise and joy in our hearts this day as we digest Your truth. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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