When your soul sings

[notice]A devotional based on everyday experiences.[/notice]

O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name! O my soul, bless God, don’t forget a single blessing! Psalm 103:1-2 (MSG)

Have you ever tried to praise God when you don’t feel like it?

I have.

I’ve tried with all my might. Sometimes the words I’ve said have been an attempt to try and lead my heart and soul to the place where they believe.

Other times I know that I’ve just been speaking syllables, uttering sounds that mean nothing. I’ve just been going through the motions because I don’t know what else to do.

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One day I couldn’t mime my praises any longer.

I wanted with all my being to praise God but I couldn’t bear the sound of my hollow words bouncing around again, clanging off the sounds of my depression and desperation and confusion.

So instead I whispered to my soul, so quietly I barely heard myself, “You must sing, you must be the one to praise God, you must do this even when I can’t.”

And now my soul sings.

My soul sings how beautiful and powerful and wonderful God is even when I can’t find those words within myself.

I can’t explain how it works. It is one of the mysteries of God that my soul can praise even when my heart and mind have nothing to offer.

I have found that when my soul leads in praise, instead of my own words, my heart and mind respond and go running after God.

I think that is what David was doing in the Psalms sometimes. He was commanding his soul to praise when he couldn’t. Begging his soul to lead his heart and mind into worship.

We don’t always feel like praising. And that’s okay.

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But next time why not try uttering Psalm 103:1-2 as a prayer and see where your soul leads you.

Have you prayed Psalm 103:1-2? What happened? (I’d love you to share your experiences of letting your soul pray in the comments).