Melodic Mondays
Those of you who know me know that I love music even though I am not musical myself. I listen to good music as often as I can. It is beneficial to the brain, valuable to the vocabulary, and strengthening to the soul. Isaiah 12:2-3 is a lovely passage that includes this soaring statement of surety: “The Lord JEHOVAH [YAHWEH] is my strength and my song.” This could be translated, “God is my mountaintop and my music.” Yes, He is! Each Monday, I want to study this subject and suggest a song to listen to. Anyone reading this devotional has easy access to any song. (I am an exception because I do not go on a computer or other information device.) If you do not like my suggestion (and we all have different tastes), you can think of or search for one that speaks to you. Then, it can become a source of encouragement throughout the week.
Psalm 46:1 is one of the verses that I memorized as a child: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present in trouble.” The Bible is clear that Christians will have trouble in this wicked world: “Yea, and all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (II Timothy 3:12). Scripture encourages us to pray about these ongoing and obvious difficulties: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). A simple song that tells us to pray when “Mr. Trouble” comes around is “Ain’t Too Proud to Pray,” written and sung by Rickey Medlocke, backed by Lynyrd Skynyrd.