Living in the Spirit
September 27, 2018
Scripture Reading: James 5:13-20
Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest. –James 5:13-18
I do agree that people who are cheerful should sing songs of praise and I think people who suffer should sing and those who are sick should at least listen to music. William Congreve may have said it best:
Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast,
To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak*.
David played the harp to calm King Saul’s anxiety. Paul led by example when his and Silas’ singing in prison spread hope throughout and beyond its walls while buoying their soul’s**.
Stress is a part of life. Building in meaningful music breaks into each day can lift our spirits and re-energize us. Try it. I like to listen to It is Well with My Soul while stretching. Trying walking to Siyahamba***, you will get a good workout for your body as well as your spirit.
Prayer: Lord, help me sing to you a new song. Amen.
*Take from The Mourning Bride by William Congreve.
**See 1 Samuel 16:14-23 and Acts 16:16-40
***See words in both English and African at http://www.mariafidelis.camden.sch.uk/_files/Words%20for%20Choir%20Songs/siyahamba1.pdf
Need to learn the tune? There are several on YouTube, for example, try https://www.google.com/search?ei=8hepW9S7FYSJ0gKkzqfYAQ&q=siyahamba+lyrics&oq=seyhamba&gs_l=psy-ab.1.1.0i13l10.1017443.1034868..1041918…1.0..0.145.2381.0j20……0….1..gws-wiz…….0j0i71j35i39j0i13i30j0i13i5i30j0i131j0i67j0i131i67j0i20i264j0i10j0i30j0i10i30.3C2ZvToSRsU