hearing for the first time

We tend to get used to singing the same songs and hearing them played over and over again that we often just tune out to the words. I know I've done that with a lot of songs. Especially if they are played a lot or sung a lot. Yesterday in church we sang "Shout to the Lord". That is a song I've heard hundreds of times and have probably sung it that many times as well. It became one of those songs for me that I just sang and rarely thought about. Yesterday I felt as if I was hearing it and singing it for the first time. I was so thankful that the Lord used that song to touch my heart once again. The line that stuck out to me the most was "I sing for joy at the work of your hands...nothing compares to the promise I have in you." Wow. When was the last time you genuinely sang for joy at the work of God's hands? It's a challenge to all of us to really sing from our hearts and mean what we sing. We shouldn't just sing because others around us are singing and people might look at us funny if we stand there not opening our mouth. We need to be coming into the presence of the Lord with a heart of worship and truly meaning the words that we sing. I know a lot of you have heard this song just as many times as I have. I would encourage you to listen to it again. In a moment of meditation, close your eyes, listen to the song and think of the amazing privilege we have in praising our Lord.