Do not let any unwholesome
talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building
others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who
listen.
Ephesians 4:29
“Not
that song!” I exclaimed as I jumped off the couch to grab my phone
and fast-forward to the next song on the playlist.
“Wow,
that really got a reaction out of you! I’ve never seen you move
that fast!” laughed my wife. “Why don’t you like that song,
anyway?”
“You
know why.” I said. “It’s the song we were singing when I was in
junior high and the choir director shamed me in front of everybody.”
My
wife knows me well enough to just let it drop, as she had heard the
story before, even if she didn’t remember which song it was that
caused me so much pain. The truth is, though, that it wasn’t the
song that caused the pain. It just caused me to remember the pain.
Whenever I hear the first notes of the song all the embarrassment and
hurt feelings just come flooding back as if it were yesterday. Even
after 40 years and a lot of healing, and even though I can talk about
it and even laugh about it now, there is something about hearing that
song that brings it all back.
It
all started when the new church choir director decided that us junior
highers were going to sing this beautiful but hopelessly hard song to
sing. None of us seemed to be able to get it right – the required
range called for professionals, not junior highers whose voices were
changing – and the choir director got madder and madder. He had a
vision for what it would sound like, and we just weren’t measuring
up to his high standards. I’m sure he felt pressure to get it
right; he was newly hired and everyone was expecting great
performances by the church choirs and musicians.
Anyway,
for whatever reason, he got angrier and angrier until he finally blew
up. Intense instructions and terse exhortations gave way to outright
yelling at us. And then, to make it worse, he singled me out and
screamed at me, telling me to try harder. We tried again, and I guess
reality hit him or something, because then he simply told me to just
pretend to sing, just lip sync while the others he selected sang
louder.
I
was so embarrassed I wanted to go climb under a rock and hide there
for days. Remember, I was in junior high and kids that age seem to
feel everything a little more deeply than everyone else. Sometimes
something happens when you are at that age and it seems like your
whole world is crashing in on you.
I
somehow made it through the choir practice but I was never the same.
I quit choir, avoided church and the choir director and even the
other kids. I distanced myself from church and, in some ways, from
God. In fact, I didn’t really have much of a relationship with Him
again until I was 23 and had a life-changing event that made me think
about eternity and spiritual things. I gave my life back to Him and
have never regretted it.
It
took me several years, though, of going to church and growing in
Christ to get to the point where I could sing along with everyone
else without fear of embarrassment. And when I felt called to the
ministry and went to Bible college, it became apparent that I would
need to be able to lead singing in small groups or classes even if I
wasn’t a musician or worship team leader. So I talked to a trusted
musician friend about it and he told I wasn’t tone-deaf, just
tone-challenged! Just lead out, he said, and as others joined in the
singing, let the better singers take the lead.
So
I’m still not singing any solos in public, but I sure enjoy singing
to the Lord in the car or wherever I can find solitude. And, believe
it or not, He really enjoys it when I sing to Him. He created me, He
is the one who made my voice the way it is, and since He likes to
hear me, that’s good enough for me. And since I am secure in His
love for me, I can start up a song in a small group or even a large
group if the Lord leads that way. He has healed me from those wounds
of so long ago and He has made me whole again.
The
lesson in all this is twofold. First, the Lord really does enjoy it
when we sing His praises. So don’t hold back. Whatever is in your
heart, sing it to the Lord and enjoy being in His presence. Don’t
worry about hitting the right notes or forgetting some of the words,
just go for it and enjoy being with Him. Sing His praises, give Him
thanks, and call to mind His faithfulness as you sing hymns, choruses
and other spiritual songs. And don’t be surprised if He gives you
some new words to a song or even a whole new song as you let loose
and express your love and affection for Him.
The
second thing I hope to have communicated is that words really do have
power behind them. A poison tongue can inflict wounds that take years
to heal. Harsh words, outright lies, hurtful put-downs, even a joke
at someone’s expense can tear a person down and keep them from
being everything God wants them to be. Uplifting and encouraging
words, on the other hand, can empower, equip, and motivate a person
to be all that they can be. So guard your tongue and choose your
words wisely; you never know the effect you are having on those who
are listening to you.
Let’s
Pray Together: Lord, help me to guard my tongue and
be a blessing to others, not a stumbling block. Help me to build
others up, not tear them down. Forgive me for when I have fallen
short and hurt others. I love you, Lord; help me to express my
emotions for you in songs. I confess that I have felt shame in my
singing or lack of talent; help me to get over that and sing
wholeheartedly to You...(continue praying as you feel led)
Action
Point: Make a plan for a time and place for you to have some
alone time with God. Think about the songs you enjoy and want to sing
to Him. Put some thought and effort into it – make a playlist if
you want music to sing along with or print off some song sheets if
you need help remembering the words.
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