I cannot carry a tune in a bucket…but, it brings me so much joy to sing praises to God.

Most days, I listen to a Christian radio station in my car. When nobody is with me, I tend to sing a lot louder. I use that time alone in my car, on the way to work, school, shopping or wherever, not for “me time,” but for time with the Lord. I pray out loud to God, and then follow that with a loud jam session in my car. I totally suggest that everyone do this; it makes for a great day!

I generally pray before a church service and ask God to just prepare my heart, and to open my ears to Him. Then, we usually start service with a few songs, which I love. I am able to stand in a room with all of my church family and praise God and lift up His name and all of His glory.

Many times, during my week, I feel like I am singing to the Lord, but how often am I doing this just out of habit?

At church camp, several years ago, I heard words one night that changed my whole perspective. The speaker held the microphone and told us, “God hates it when we sing praises to Him and we don’t mean them!” That hit me so deep and I am pretty sure my jaw flew open. If God didn't want us to sing, then why did we sing at every church service?

I have always sung in church! Every Sunday and every Wednesday! That night at church camp, I didn’t sing for the rest of the service. Instead, I prayed and I asked God to forgive me. After my prayer session, I came to realize that it isn’t that He doesn’t “want” us to sing, but He wants us to mean what we are singing. That evening, I realized that I had only been going through the motions.

Psalm 47:6 says, “Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.”

Now, when I start to sing, sometimes I realize that I don't truly mean the words that I am singing. When that happens, I immediately stop. I start to pray instead. I do not ever want to just go through the motions while I am praising God. He deserves so much more than my off key singing, but He asks for us to praise Him through song. So we need to mean the words that we are singing to Him.

I listen to many different music genres, but like I said, I am not the best singer so I usually choose not to sing along. However, I don’t usually hold back when I am singing to the Lord. It’s the best feeling knowing that you are pleasing Him, because He deserves so much praise and adoration.

Psalm 105:2 tells us just that as well, it says, “Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!”