Sing To The Lord A New Song

Libby is a lawyer and mother to three teenagers

Psalm 96:1-2 (NIV)
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.

I grew up in a Christian household. A privilege undoubtedly, but as a child (and honestly sometimes as an adult) it didn’t always feel like that. One thing that was ever present was Christian music: whether I was singing it in a children’s choir, listening to it on my parents’ 'cassettes' or in church, it was always there. It didn’t feel like a new song; rather a boring and sometimes embarrassing song (this was the 70s and 80s!). 

However, over the years, I have come to understand the power of those songs – old and new - in countless ways. The power to feed me pieces of scripture that are embedded in me deeper than if I had tried to learn them without music. The power to inspire me as I learn of the people who wrote them and the sacrificial lives they lived. And the power to release a spiritual response in me that I am learning to welcome more. 

I also learnt recently that singing changes our brains and regulates our nervous system, activating our vagus nerve. How amazing that we have a creator God who gives us this powerful form of worship which feeds our body spiritually and physically; I guess we should expect nothing less! 

This week, I want to look at four very different songs. Two are centuries old and yet their power is undiminished and have helped me approach my Saviour and sing a new song when I have needed it most. 

Prayer - Plant in us new songs this week. Songs which speak to us just where we are and where we need you the most.