God's Song In My Heart.
Thanks for joining the Need-Hope.com podcast. In this episode, we will talk about the words playing like a song in our heart and mind. Think about it…whatever we dwell on reveals itself in our speech and actions….What song will you choose? You can listen to this podcast episode by clicking: God's Song In My Heart
Welcome, My Friend to Need Hope.
I’m Chris Gray. And I’m so glad you’re here.
Let me ask you….where do you find hope?
In a moment, we will talk about the words playing like a song in our heart and mind. Think about it…whatever we dwell on reveals itself in our speech and actions….What song will you choose? Stay tuned...
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First, let’s listen to God’s Word. Ephesians 5:15-20. I pray God speaks to our hearts.
“So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father;”
This instruction from the Lord is what we need to hear for today.
We are told in this passage:
Be careful how we walk, not as unwise people but as wise;
Make the most of our time because the days are evil;
Do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is;
Do not get drunk on wine.
In other words, we are not to be under the control of wine or any other earthly substance but filled with and under the control of the Holy Spirit.
So here’s the question…how does a follower of Jesus maintain being filled with the Spirit?
The answer is found in the rest of the passage. Instead of being consumed with finding our hope and peace in earthly things, we are told how to focus on our relationship with the Lord and eternal things. And it doesn’t matter if we are in times of severe uncertainty and chaos, or in times of plenty.
God’s word says we are to speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs and also make melody in our hearts to the Lord. We are to always give thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father.
There’s our answer. As we focus on thanking God and worship the Lord in song and obedience to His Word, the Spirit of God will fill us. We will overflow with God’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, and self-control…no matter what chaos is going on around us.
I’d like to ask you…what thoughts do you entertain in your heart and mind?
I was thinking to myself…God says to “Make Melody” in our hearts to the LORD….
Well, there are a lot of beautiful hymns to choose from. Those songwriters allowed God to make a melody in their hearts. They worshipped God. And we have all these wonderful hymns to cherish.
This same God speaks to our hearts. If He tells us to make a melody, then guess what? He will enable us to make that personal melody within our hearts.
I want to encourage you to allow the Spirit of God to sing through you with thanksgiving to the LORD for all things, and let our refrain be the gospel.
I know it may feel strange if you haven’t done this before, but when you allow yourself to be free in the Spirit, you will feel soo free as you sing God’s truth back to Him. Just let those words come out in whatever melody is in your heart.
Remember, we live for an audience of One, God, so even if our voices may not qualify us to be a lead soloist at church, that’s okay. It’s a matter of worship, not comparison with others. Thank God we have a voice to sing, amen?!
Before I share one of my songs, maybe you find yourself thinking, “I am so overwhelmed with just getting through the day, with doing what I need to do, I don’t see how it’s possible to follow Jesus and have my thoughts fixed on God.”
Well, there’s a good reason for this struggle. We are all born with a self-focused way of living. We always want the final say on whether life is going right or terribly wrong. This kind of living says I know better than God, my way is best, and this shouldn’t be happening so I have a right to be angry and be unloving towards others.
Friend, this attitude of “there’s no authority over me” is rebellion. And this rebellion deserves hell. Yet God lovingly offers us rescue, not only from hell but from this self-focused, destructive life.
God delivers those who turn away from their self-ruled life and put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He bled and died, taking the judgment we deserve. Then He rose from the grave. Jesus offers relationship and victory over sin, death, and the devil. I hope you won’t reject God’s love. And I hope you will turn to Jesus today. If you want more information on how to have a relationship with God, our website is Need-Hope.com
Back to the song in our hearts…it can be any song that thanks God based on His truths found in the Bible. Scripture memory is important so we can meditate on these truths and know how to lovingly submit to God.
We can’t remind ourselves enough of God’s great love demonstrated for us through Christ……here I go with my heart’s song…(sing). I try to sing out the gospel every day. My melody changes each day as the gospel message and God’s truths are joyfully sung. Won’t you join me in singing the gospel each day?
So here’s my question to you, my friend…What song will you hide in your heart as you sing to God with thankfulness for Jesus and His truths found in the Bible?
Would you please let me know how it goes? Be sure to email me.
You can do that by going to our website Need-Hope.com. On the bottom, there is a form for prayer. Send it to me and I will reply. You can also send your audio song to encourage me.
I hope you will join me in making an ongoing daily melody in your heart to the Lord with thanksgiving. God will help you.
Until next time, Look to Jesus.
And look to God’s Word for guaranteed hope.
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Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. www.Lockman.org