Focus Friday #5

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Do you like to sing?

A few days ago, I was reading in the Psalms and came across something very interesting.  Psalm 59 ends with David saying that he will sing to God of God's strength and lovingkindness.

One of the things that makes that passage of the Bible remarkable is because Psalm 59 is actually a prayer for deliverance from his enemies.  People wanted to murder King David.  This chapter talks about fierce men launching an attack against him, laying an ambush.  He was praying earnestly for God to deliver him and he compared his attackers to dogs, saying, "They return at evening, they howl like a dog; and go around the city.  They wander about for food and growl if they are not satisfied."

Then, the next verse reads, "But as for me, I shall sing. . . ."

Sing?  Really?  That's your battle plan?

Actually, the Bible shows in several places that music can be a very powerful link in our relationship with God.  Perhaps, part of the reason for that is that music helps us remember our JOY, and the joy of the LORD is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

Anyway, for this Focus Friday, I want to share with you about three children in the news lately who used music in remarkable ways in challenging circumstances.  Very inspiring and uplifting. 
 
First up is a five-year old blind girl in Korea who shares that "You were born to be loved. . . you are receiving that love through your life. . . The love from God that started since the beginning of your birth. . . ."
 

Amazing.

Second up is Willie.  He was only nine years old when he was kidnapped from his lawn in Atlanta while caring for his dog.  Lured closer with the temptation of free money, he was grabbed and thrown into a car.  But Willie sang a praise song to God ("God, my Savior.  God, my Healer.  God, my Deliverer. . .Yes, He is! Every praise is to our God!") over and over until his kidnapper let him go.


And perhaps my favorite. . . an autistic and blind boy named Christopher asks God to open the eyes of his HEART, so he can see his holy God.  Love it.  Amen!


Feeling discouraged today?  Don't like your circumstances?  Sing out to God and let him surround you with his joy.

Happy weekend!

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