AL: Joni, one of the things I love about being with you is that you enjoy so many hymns and praise songs…
JONI: “Praise Him, praise Him, tell of His excellent greatness…”
AL: See what I mean?
JONI: Well, Al, you love to sing, too…
AL: Yeah, but only in the shower…
JONI: Nah… with your wife Margaret and the way she plays the piano?
AL: Now there’s the musician in the family!
JONI: But I know you have a favorite hymn…
AL: Well, let’s see, there are a lot of them. I especially like “There is a Fountain Filled with Blood”…
JONI: Didn’t you say you wanted me to sing that at your funeral?
AL: Oh, I sure do. I’m certain that the people are counting on it, but I’ll take that hymn while I'm alive and kicking! The other hymn I really like is “Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to thee.” The words are the best!
JONI: And, Al, that’s what I love about singing these hymns we are talking about. I think it’s the words. Like that hymn you just mentioned: “Take my voice and let me sing; always, only, for my King... Take my silver and my gold – not a mite would I withhold... Take my will and make it Thine – it shall be no longer mine...” You know, I was singing that the other week and suddenly when I got to that last line -- take my will and make it thine -- I was jolted, oh, my goodness, those are powerful words! I thought.
AL: Actually, the words, Joni, make up a great prayer for any of us to pray any time.
JONI: Bingo! You know, most of us gloss over the words when we sing a hymn. I mean, think about it, like on Sunday morning, if I know the song, I'll put myself on automatic and just sing by rote. Other times, the tune becomes the focus and I work hard to get the harmony just right. But listen to what I found in 1 Corinthians 14, which says, “I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; (now get this) I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.”
AL: Joni, there aren’t many of us who do that… “sing with our mind,” like that verse says.
JONI: Yeah, and to sing with our mind means to think, it means to listen; it means to be mentally in tune with what in the world we’re singing and saying. If only we could observe ourselves during an average Sunday church service, it would probably reveal whether or not we’ve come to church with the purpose of really and truly encountering God. To sing with our spirit and mind means happy, intelligent praise. To sing with your mind is to sing what you mean... and to mean what you sing.
So, friend listening, this Sunday when you sing praise choruses or hymns, ask the Lord to prepare your heart and mind before each song. Ask the Spirit of Christ to quicken the words on the page, illumine your understanding of the text, and make your worship of him pure and purposeful as you sing. As you do, you’ll be making beautiful music for the ears of your Savior!
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 93176
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