Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a familiar Thanksgiving song.
Come thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing thy praise.
Dreams of mercy never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of God’s redeeming love.
When I’m restless and my soul is downcast, I often surround myself with the calming strains of a favorite hymn, like this one that speaks of counting God’s blessings – it’s a good reminder for Thanksgiving coming up. But as I said, when my heart is heavy, I will comfort myself with songs. I sing to myself, yes, but I also sing to God. And when I sing, I’m always mindful that not only has God put the song in my heart (in Scripture, it says he does that), but I am aware that God sings to me. I cannot audibly hear him – or sometimes, I think I do. But yes, he sings to me and he sings to you, too. Zephaniah chapter 3 says, "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
Now what is really fascinating is, that verse is perhaps the only bright, happy thing in the entire book of Zephaniah. The verse about God singing and taking delight and rejoicing over us comes right at the end of a whole lot of doom and gloom and fiery judgment! Go ahead, read it for yourself. Because of the great sin of God’s people, the Lord sends suffering – great suffering – one judgment after the next until, right near the end of the book of Zephaniah, there’s a switch; a distinct change of tone. It’s there that God’s mercy trumps judgment, and out of all that suffering and hardship arises a song, God's song over us. It tells me that our Heavenly Father will never ever let suffering, pain and disappointment have the last word. Rather, a song has the last word – God’s song. And in your hardship, he sings a melody of hope and comfort and victory over you.
Next week is Thanksgiving, so sing to the Lord today and know that He’s rejoicing over you with His own melody written just for you. So, between now and Thanksgiving next week, ask the Lord Jesus to put inside your heart, a praise song or a gospel song or a timeless hymn that you can sing to Him. And then, enjoy the Lord’s song echoing back. It’ll quiet your heart and your anxious soul. Remember, your God is with you, and so is His song. His mercy triumphs over any judgment in your life and out of all that suffering and hardship comes a song – God’s song over you. God always sings the last note. Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it, Mount of God’s redeeming love. Next week is Thanksgiving, so sing to the Lord today and know that He’s rejoicing over you.
© Joni and Friends
Compliments of Joni and Friends
PO Box 3333 Agoura Hills, CA 91376