Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. (NIV)
St. Augustine once said, “When the mouth sings, the soul prays twice.” He meant that when we sing, it is not just the words themselves that have meaning, but also the music that goes with them. The words of a hymn teach the truth about who God is and what he has done, and the music of the hymn lifts our hearts and souls and helps deepen the truths present in the words.
Maybe that’s why Paul and Silas, sitting in a prison cell in Philippi, were not just speaking together about their Savior, but singing hymns to him. They needed strength to face their trial, and what better way to find that strength than by singing a song together? And their songs had an impact on those around them – the other prisoners were listening, and so was the jailer himself. When an earthquake came and broke open the prison doors, the jailer thought he was as good as dead. But Paul reassured him, and the truths Paul and Silas had been singing burst through the jailer’s heart and came out in a plea, “What must I do to be saved?”
Songs have power. They give strength. What songs might you sing, on those days when parenting seems so difficult? On the challenging days when it feels like you just can’t see how things can get better for your family? On those dark days when you wonder where the hope for your child is? Maybe there are specific hymns that speak of the goodness of God, or songs that remind you of his incredible love for both you and your child, or songs that just focus your attention on how great Jesus is. Keep those songs in mind; keep them close. And when you need them, don’t be afraid to sing. Let your mouth and your soul pray together through music that lets the tears flow, the heart swell, and gives you strength and peace to face the day.
Lord, thank you for music—for the way it teaches my heart to trust in you. When I’m overwhelmed and exhausted as a parent, help me find those songs that teach me of your goodness, and lift my heart to strength and peace. Plant such songs deep in my heart, and when I need them most, bring them back out as a song of praise from my lips. Amen.
by Brandon Steenbock