It’s been such a blessing to see you guys entering so wholeheartedly into praise over the last few weeks as we’ve worshiped together! For our final devotional in our PRAISE series (and my final devotional as Intern here!), we’re looking at SINGING OUT!

This feels like a particularly pertinent one to finish on, as I’ll be the first to admit that before my intern year, singing out my own song in worship was quite frankly terrifying, and I had no idea how or what to do! But, having learnt more about the theology of praise and worship, grown in my love for worship over this year, and had space to try it out, I can safely say that singing out my own song to the Lord is one of the most beautiful, intimate, and powerful ways I’ve experienced worship, so I want to encourage you to do the same!

Last week we were reflecting on all of creation worshiping God – the mountains and hills bursting into song, and the trees clapping their hands (Isaiah 55) – and this is something we also see when thinking about singing out a new song of praise:

In Luke, we see Jesus entering Jerusalem as King, to triumphant shouts of praise:

“When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Luke 19:37-40

It may seem strange that stones could sing praise, but I think what Jesus is saying is that He (and by extension, God the Father) is SO worthy of praise, that if His people didn’t praise and worship Him, even the rocks would begin to praise. It is only fitting and only right that the Lord is always praised - wholeheartedly and loudly by His creation, and if it’s not by us, His created world will take over instead!

Psalm 96 echoes this (particularly verses 11-13). Please do read the whole Psalm, but I think the first verses so beautifully expresse how we can bring praise to God in our own unique way:

“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD all the earth.

Sing to the LORD, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day.”

Psalm 96:1-2

God has created each of us uniquely, and I’m certain that He delights in our individual, unique, imperfect praise just as a parent recognises and delights in every call of their child. How precious must it be, then, when we sing to Him our own, new song of praise – praising Him for the work that He has done, continues to do, and will do in our future! Just as a child creates art and sings songs that make no sense – our ‘new song’ doesn’t have to sound beautiful, polished or record-worthy, but simply needs to be a reflection of our heart, in praise of the wonders our Lord has done, and all that He is. This is a pleasing and fitting offering – so much more so than if we were to keep quiet!

Having hurdled the fear and anxiety of actually singing out (and still hurdling it too!), I so want to encourage you to try for yourselves! God delights in whatever comes out, and it will unlock new ways of worshiping in your own life too! Invite the Holy Spirit to put a new song on your heart, and give it a go this week!