Personal

November 14, 2024

“Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s god, and I will exalt him.” –Exodus 15:1-2 NIV

I wonder what worship might look like if I/we began singing songs TO God instead of just singing about God?

Do you see the difference there?

This past week was Amy and my 30th Wedding Anniversary (crazy how time flies)…

If I talk ABOUT her, even if she is in the room, it is good and wonderful. Others would hear of my love for her. That love may be evident in the things I say about her. Others may even talk about her as well. What is said about her shows what is known about her. It may or may not be personal. It can be a bit superficial.

But when I talk TO my wife, it’s personal. When I tell her all the things that she is to me, it’s a far deeper. When I tell her how good and wonderful she is, she can hear it in my voice and see it on my face. It’s truth. It’s real. Again, it’s personal stemming from a personal relationship. Stemming from love.

God had just freed the Hebrews from Egypt and the bonds of slavery. They had just seen God part the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s soldiers disappear beneath a wall of water. Their whole lives they had heard of and known about God. But now… Now it was personal.

And they sang a song of praise TO the Lord… a song of personal testimony

Head knowledge had become heart knowledge. And they sang TO the Lord and worshiped Him. It was personal.

As we know Him more and better, our worship will go from singing about Him…. to singing to Him. As we surrender our hearts and lives to Him, it becomes personal.

Think and Pray: As we worship the Lord, whether corporately on Sunday or in personal times of devotion and worship, let’s sing TO the Lord a new song… telling Him all that He means to us. Heavenly Father, I praise You this day for who You are, help me to worship You in a way that reflects my gratitude, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Marty Stubblefield is a husband, father, businessperson, youth coach, and former college basketball player. Having spent 34+ years in Banking, Bank Administration and State Government across the Southeast, he brings a different view of faith, life, and the struggles we face in the marketplace and our day-to-day lives. He has been married to Amy for 28 years, has three daughters, a son-in-law, grandson, and two Labradoodles. He blogs weekly at oldlazydog.com