A New Song
Simple worship does not have to begin with a playlist, a church service, or a polished song. Sometimes it begins with a quiet melody in your heart to the Lord.
I typically don’t listen to much music.
Yes, I know. As a musician, you might think I would have music playing all the time. And I do love many kinds of music — jazz, salsa, classical, and of course, worship.
But the truth is, I usually already have songs playing in my head. So I don’t always need an external device to play anything for me.
When I’m driving, there is rarely a radio on or a playlist going. Sometimes I simply sing and worship with whatever song is already in my heart. Other times, I just make up songs.
It might be something very simple like:
“Jesus, I love You, do-do-do-doo-do…”
Usually, it follows some kind of 12-bar or 16-bar blues form. And often, it is about whatever is around me — squirrels, sunshine, rain, clouds, trees, or anything else that turns my heart toward the Lord.
Then the other day, while I was doing this, something dawned on me.
This may be exactly what the Apostle Paul was talking about when he wrote:
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”
— Ephesians 5:19
I had been doing this for years and had never really connected it to that verse.
God is so patient with me.
All this time, I thought I was just making up little songs to the Lord. But suddenly I realized that what felt simple, playful, and even a little silly was actually something Scripture encourages us to do.
Psalm 40:3 says:
“He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God.”
When that connection came alive in my heart, joy rose up in me.
He had put a new song in my mouth.
Worship Can Be Simple
Sometimes we make worship more complicated than it needs to be.
We may think we need the newest worship playlist, a church service, a worship team, a video, or a special spiritual atmosphere. And all of those can be wonderful.
But worship can also happen quietly in the car.
It can happen while walking outside.
It can happen while noticing the rain, the sunshine, the trees, or the little details of creation around us.
Philippians 4:8 tells us to think on whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. Creation itself declares the glory of God. So why not turn those simple “whatsoever” moments into a personal song of worship?
Why not sing to Him about what is right in front of you?
A song does not have to be complicated to be real.
A song does not have to be polished to be worship.
A song does not have to be written down, recorded, or performed for anyone else.
Sometimes the most precious worship is simply a melody in your heart to the Lord.
A Simple Children’s Song
Years ago, when I was a music teacher, I used to sing an old children’s song in chapel services called Jesus, My Rock.
It was incredibly simple:
“Jesus, my Rock, boom, boom, boom…”
Then we would repeat it and slowly speed it up until we could barely sing or play it anymore.
It was simple.
It was joyful.
And it was worship.
Sometimes I think loving God and worshiping Him can be so simple that we miss it. We look for something deeper, bigger, newer, or more impressive, when the Lord may simply be inviting us to sing to Him right where we are.
Make Melody in Your Heart
Paul encouraged believers to speak to themselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in their hearts to the Lord.
That means worship is not only something we attend.
It is something we carry.
It is something we practice.
It is something that can rise from the heart throughout the ordinary moments of the day.
So, dear reader, I challenge you to try it.
Turn the music off for a little while.
Sing to the Lord.
Make up a simple song.
Thank Him for what is around you.
Sing about His goodness, His creation, His nearness, His patience, and His love.
It does not have to be impressive.
It just needs to be from your heart.
He may already be putting a new song in your mouth.
Free Guide: Practicing God’s Presence
Would you like to learn how to turn ordinary moments into simple communion with God?
I created a free guide called Practicing God’s Presence to help you begin living with a greater awareness of God throughout the day — in prayer, work, driving, walking, and the simple moments of life.
Download the Free Guide