Prescription for Life? Try Music

I really don’t like taking medications. Until I turned 60 years old, my medicine cabinet was empty, but now I am on four prescriptions. I have high hopes, though, of health improvements that will eliminate most of them.

There is one prescription I take daily that is prescribed by Dr. God—Jehovah Rophe—and I will continue forever: Sing first! Here’s what my bottle says:

Rinnah (Singing) & Tehillah (Praise)
TAKE at least 1 EVERY DAY
before symptoms of stress occur,
major decisions are made,
and battles are fought.

Best taken in the morning, on the way to work,
during household chores, and the moments in between.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is in 2 Chronicles 20. It tells the story of King Jehoshaphat and how praise won a battle. Here are the “cliff notes”:

• The nation of Judah is surrounded by enemies ready to destroy them.
  • My enemies may not be the same, but I sense the attack.
• King Jehoshaphat calls the people to fast and pray. “God, we don’t know what to do but we are looking to you for help.”
  • My first instinct is not to pray but retaliate and defend in my own strength. “God, help me look to you first.”
• God speaks, “Don’t be afraid, the battle is not yours, but mine!”
  • “Are you sure I’m not suppose to be fighting this one on my own?” Really! When will I learn?
• Jehoshaphat sends the worshipers out in front of the army, singing and praising God.
  • It seems useless and vulnerable not to arm myself with weapons. Oh, wait a minute. “Are you trying to teach me that worship IS my weapon?”
• At the very moment the worship starts the enemy armies are disoriented and begin attacking each other.
  • My possible skirmish or trial may collapse before I even reach the combat zone.
• By the time Judah reaches the battle field every enemy is dead.
  • It doesn’t matter the words; I can sing anything with my focus on God and the praise shoots forward in time and space and can dissolve the conflict.

How many of my daily battles, stresses, and trials could be completely disintegrated if I sent singing and praise in first?

Be proactive with singing.

• Turn on the music first thing in the morning and hum along as you get ready for your day.
• Crank up the volume in the car and let the other drivers around you wonder what you are doing as your whole body responds to the words. (WARNING: Keep one hand on the steering wheel and eyes wide open!)
• Add a little jump to your step as you are working out with your “building faith” playlist.
• Put an extra stomp into the vacuum cleaner as you sing your prayer.
• Put together a playlist.

Don’t know where to start with your playlist? Here are two of mine for 2019:

 

Proclamation Playlist

Amen—Charity Gayle

More and More—B.J. Putnam

Into Faith I Go—Pat Barrett

Love Like Fire—B.J. Putnam

The Blood Hymns Medley—Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Raise a Hallelujah—Bethel Music

King of My Heart—Steffany Gretzinger, Bethel Music

No Matter What—Ryan Stevenson

Psalm 23—People & Songs

Way Maker—Sinach

Cleansed—Charity Gayle

God of Miracles—Chris McCarney

Faith Builder Playlist

Awesome—Charles Jenkins

Miracles—Jesus Culture

Let the Church Say Amen—Andrae Crouch, Marvin Winans

Good Good Father—Chris Tomlin

Break Every Chain—Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Great Are You Lord—All Sons & Daughters

Yes I Will—Vertical Worship