Week 32: Psalm 47

Psalm 47

Have you ever been in a season where it feels like your life is a game of Whack-A-Mole? When it feels like as soon as you solve one problem, another arises. When you just can't seem to catch a break, and you feel like you keep getting hit with extra rough waves of life, just trying to stay afloat.

I've been there, friend. It's tough. I easily allow cynicism to creep into my mind during times like this. Thoughts like, “Well, I should have known this would happen. Everything is hard right now” or “I might as well get used to everything going wrong.”

But there is an alternative. There is something you can do that can turn your perspective around--worship.

I used to push musical worship to the wayside because I didn't feel like I had a great voice. I was self-conscious singing in church. I always thought “maybe musical worship just isn't for me.”

While there are many ways to worship our Great God, the truth is that we don't need an amazing sounding voice for our hearts to be transformed through the power of musical worship. In Psalm 47, it specifically describes worship to God as “joy.” In fact, the very first verse makes it clear, “Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!”

It doesn't take a perfectly pitched voice to sing with joy to our God. And it's incredible to see the heart transformation that can take place when we worship our God. Psalm 47:6-7 says, “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!”

I've learned over the years as a follower of Jesus that I don't need a perfect voice to praise him – I can praise Him while crying in the car on my way home from a heartbreaking doctor's appointment – even if that's just turning on music that sings of Truth from His Word while I cry out to Him. I’ve found this brings joy even amidst absolute devastation. And even on the mundane days at home as a stay at home mama, I can praise Him while dancing in the kitchen with my two-year-old–oh the JOY that she brings to a dance party!

Using Psalm 47 as a reminder, when you start to feel cynical about life and feel trapped in a game of whack a mole, turn to God in worship! Find a worship playlist you love or start collecting your favorite worship songs on a playlist of your own. Blast it in the car while you drive to work or when it feels impossible to make dinner with tiny toddlers at your feet at the end of a long day. Make worship your first step of action against the lies of cynicism. You will be amazed every time at the heart transformation that takes place!

-Hannah