WHY I SING THE WORD

When I first learned to open my Bible and make up a melody to the words on the page, it was a huge revelation! I felt like I was interacting with the Word of God at a deeper level than ever before. Since getting involved in the house of prayer movement, singing the Word has become an indispensable part of my prayer life and I am so grateful for this habit.

In Colossians 3:16, Paul writes, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly… in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” When we sing the word devotionally, it begins to dwell in our hearts in a deep way, strengthening and transforming us.

It Realigns My Focus

There are plenty of days when my heart feels bored and/or frazzled. I need a way to stir myself up to take hold of truth, and more often than not, singing the words of Scripture right off the page does that for me. Psalm 45 about the beauty of Jesus in His second coming is one of my favorites, and Psalm 27:4 about “one thing” desire for His presence is another. It's a way to slow down, lock eyes with Jesus, and say to myself, "Oh yeah. That's what this is all about.”

It Anchors Me Through Pain

I've been through several painful disappointments the past few years, and singing the Word has been a big part of what has pulled me through. I've got a pattern now, a well-trodden path back to trust; when another thing happens, I take a deep breath and initiate the protocol: Psalm 23, Psalm 37, Song of Solomon 1.

These passages have become part of my heart's language to God through these seasons. They have anchored me in truth and helped me "set [my] mind on things above” (Colossians 3:2) when it would have been so much easier to give into the storm of my own emotions. Singing my way into the truth has been more than a good idea or a catchy saying— it’s been a lifeline.

It Gets the Word in Me

Nothing solidifies memory like music. How many thousands of songs do you still know, even though you haven’t heard them in years? I still have verses memorized that I learned as songs as a kid. Certain passages are now burned in my memory because of how many times I have sung them—and heard my fellow worship leaders sing them!

It Unlocks Insight

The Word is the Holy Spirit’s favorite vehicle! When I sing the word, I usually start by singing the exact words directly from the page, and then I let myself explore the idea by singing whatever meditation comes to mind. I often discover fresh insights, paraphrases, connecting verses, etc; sometimes a phrase I didn’t even consciously plan to sing will catch me off guard and touch my heart in a deep way!

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You can read more from Caitlyn at her website fragrancearise.com and follow her on social media under the name “fragrance arise”.

Caitlyn Lutz