SCRIPTURES

Psalm 63:2
I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. (NIV)

Psalm 86:12
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. (NIV)

Psalm 96:2-3
Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!

DEVOTION
The video starts. An unsuspecting young woman steps out of her car while a young man in military fatigues is hiding around the corner, down on one knee with a little box in his hand. Suddenly she walks into view and recognizes him and what’s happening, runs into his arms, explodes in happy tears, screams of delight, and kisses mixed with her answer of yes!! Why does that scene instantly flood us with emotion? Because we recognize the magnitude of his love: the planning, the preparation, the obstacles he had to overcome, the sacrifices he made all for her, to win her love. What happens next in that young bride’s life? She visits everyone she knows and shows them the ring and tells them the story of how he proposed. She revels in recounting his love, and in turn all the glory goes to him. This is how we glorify God: soaking in His love for us, recounting to anyone who will listen about all the ways He’s pursued us, how He’s been gracious, kind, affectionate, protective, and beautiful to us.As we tell the story of His love for us, our passion for Him is rekindled, others experience His goodness and join our praises, and He gets all the glory. And when the words in your songs feel like they completely fall short in describing the weight and majesty of God’s glory, don’t be discouraged! Our limited words can never fully describe the greatness of our infinite God, (Ps.106:2) which is why we can’t help but burst into song, adding to our lyrics the beauty and emotion of music. Our job is not to come up with all the words to describe our indescribable God, but simply to gaze at Him, soak in His presence, and allow Him to fill our souls with the words to describe Himself, so that we can shout the praise of His glory to the ends of the earth.

RESPOND THROUGH SONGWRITING
On a sheet of paper, title the top: “How to Glorify God.” Then draw two lines down the page to form three columns. Title the left column: “Tools,” the middle column: “Treasure” and the right column “Target.” “Tools” equip us for the “How to” part of glorifying God. Under “Tools” list every command/verb found in Psalm 96 (i.e. sing, tell, declare). “Treasure” unpacks why we glorify God. Under “Treasure” list every adjective that describes God or His works (i.e. wonderful, great, splendor). “Target” is where we want to aim the glory: God alone. Under “Target” list every noun describing God’s character or works. (i.e. Lord, His name, His salvation) Finish the chart using all of Psalm 96. Pick a tool, a treasure and a target from your list that most reflects your love story with God. Now write a new song about it.

INHALE (Prayer)
Lord, remind me how we first met and how You pursued me with Your love. It’s unthinkable how You keep coming after me and offering Yourself in all Your goodness and grace. It’s so easy to say yes to You. Let love for You continue to deepen as I grow in the realization that You never get bored with me and Your affection is new for me each morning.

Excerpt taken from Inhale: A 30-Day Christian Songwriting Devotional (The Worship Coalition), the first book in A Living Hallelujah series, is a refreshing and encouraging call to every Christian songwriter to experience freedom and power in the creative process. Click here to purchase a copy of A Living Hallelujah.