Practical applications

 

As we finish up on Psalm 66, let's make some practical applications to our everyday lives.

Making His praise glorious is a top priority for believers. There are many ways that we can praise Him.

First, don't look down upon public song. Many people argue about the style and tempo and the instruments played, but singing in our church services is an important part of praising God. Do we think about other things while half our brain is instructing our eyes and mouth to look at the hymnal and make sounds?

Hymns and choruses sung by the congregation are not just filler. They are not just times for late-comers to slip inside and find a seat. They are not times to stand outside the sanctuary and chat with people to "catch up" with them. They aren't times to be reading the bulletin.

Hymns and choruses are times to engage whole-heartedly. If the lyrics are shown on a screen for the congregation, or if we are looking down to our hymnbook, this is a time for genuine worship.

So many times, the hymns are very familiar and we have a tendency to not think about them too much. But the words are so meaningful in many of the songs - they are like lessons in theology! They give us an opportunity to ponder the love of God and His grace and mercy. They bring to mind our sin, and the awesome gift of salvation that is ours through the cross of Christ Jesus, our Savior. The songs and hymns we sing should help us to rejoice and give Him glory and gratitude. The second verse of Psalm 66 tells us to "sing the glory of His name" and that's exactly what we should do!

Another practical application is to make sure that we don't forget about private worship - the personal, one-on-one relationship that is ours by His grace. Our singing should be the result of hearts that have been speaking gratitude to Him all week. 

Have we lost our passion for our prayer time? Is it a chore to stop and read our Bibles? When God whispers, "Come, let us reason together..." are we excited to kneel and pray, or is it annoying to take our time away from other "important" things in our lives? How can we think of what He has done for us, and grow cold?

Does a young woman forget her jewelry,
    a bride her wedding ornaments?
Yet my people have forgotten me,
    days without number. (Jeremiah 2:32, NIV)

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8)

In our quiet times, we have the opportunity to worship in Spirit and in truth. Take time each day to spend time with Him.