Daily Devotion

Does this ever happen to you?  Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the    night with the words and music from a hymn running through my mind.  I am always amazed by this because I am do not have musical abilities nor do I play or listen to music regularly when I am in the car or doing tasks around my home.  Nevertheless, hymns and other Christian music often rise to the surface of my mind and “speak” to me when I need their words to encourage me or give me comfort or insight.  I have learned to love the way music I hear in worship sticks with me through the ups and downs of life.

I was recently reminded of what Martin Luther said about music, “next to the Word of God music deserves the highest praise.”  He said this because he saw music had the ability to express all the emotions we might feel when it comes to our faith.  Music can comfort us, encourage us, call us to act faithfully and even entrust ourselves to God’s care.  It is amazing what music can do.

I think this is why my Confirmation pastor required us to memorize words to various hymns, oh so very long ago.  I think Pastor Knappe knew words from hymns have the tendency to stick with us.  I was also encouraged by my 6^th grade teacher to sing out with hymns, to make a joyful noise to the Lord.  (She could not sing lick, by the way, but that did not stop her from singing.) When we sing and make a joyful noise to the Lord, we feel the music in our bodies, not just as thoughts or words. 

So, in this week’s devotions I will be sharing some hymns which have inspired me in the last few years of my life. These are hymns I was not familiar with when I was growing up.  Perhaps you will want to mention hymns or music which inspires you as a disciple of Jesus too.

Today I will close by mentioning one hymn that has helped me clearly see God’s love for me.  It is Amazing Grace.  This hymn tells me and so many people, how God’s unconditional love accepts them just as they are.  It is a hymn that gives those who are hopeless, what they need most hope.  I love the traditional version of this hymn, but I also like the contemporary version which is titled, Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone.  I hope you can take a few minutes and listen to this recording by Good Shepherd musicians as you are reminded you will always be a beloved child of God.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BysD1r_6No&list=PLd-DolKcKwdu2Yq0CaVlEdfkLVcOcLBEP&index=10