“ Oh God, you are my God, and I
will ever praise you!” A line from
the very popular song, “Step By Step” written by Rich Mullins and Beaker in
1991. This is a song that you are
probably very familiar with and maybe even tired of hearing if you are involved
in a church or familiar with church music at all. Being a musician, I have performed this song literally
hundreds of times. I have seen
audiences big and small stand and sing this song together with an excitement
and joy that goes much deeper than familiarity or popularity. It’s not likely that everyone in the
audience is a good singer (unless you’re at a Church of Christ service). J
It’s not even dependant on the performance being flawless, although this
helps. There is something about
singing that we resonate with and are drawn to. There is something about singing truth that brings hope and
joy regardless of your belief.
I can say to you, “I believe my God is real and I’m always going to praise Him.” Depending on my delivery, this statement will determine whether or not you believe me or believe this truth. It will lead you to inquire more or go on about your merry way. However if I sing this phrase because I believe it, and maybe I don’t sing well but I sing boldly and I don’t care if you believe me or not, that will impact you. You’ll most likely resonate on some level with this statement even if you don’t agree with it; you’ll be drawn to the fact that it is sung more so than just said.
Now, as mentioned, when a group sings this song it resonates with me on an even greater level. No matter if I am performing or participating, hearing this statement sung is much more powerful than hearing it spoken. I may not feel like singing or performing this song for whatever reason, but when the people on either side of me are singing we are reminding each other that it is true. The prophet Zephaniah talks about the Lord rejoicing over you with gladness and exulting (reminding/encouraging) you with loud singing. This is a picture of Jesus not just standing before the Father stating what He has done, but rather singing what He has done to know us. When I sing the truth that I claim to believe whether alone or in community, it brings about hope and joy for my soul that completes the truth that begins as mere information or knowledge and it becomes nourishment.
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