Spirit-filled Expressions

speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; (Ephesians 5:19 NAS)

I read in a devotional some time ago a story of a man waiting for his heart bypass surgery. He was feeling uneasy as he thought about what could go wrong, for he was aware people die during surgery. An orderly soon came by to take him to the surgical suite. While pushing the gurney along the corridor, the orderly hummed an old Irish hymn, ‘Be Thou My Vision.’ Memories of lush green fields and the ancient stone ruins came to the man’s mind, flooding his soul like a fresh breath of home, for Ireland was the land of his birth. When the orderly finished humming the Irish hymn, he then hummed Horatio Spafford’s hymn, ‘It is Well with My Soul.’

“God has used you this day,” said the man to the orderly when they finally arrived outside the surgical suite.

“How so?” the orderly asked in surprise.

“Your ‘hums’ brought God to me,” the man replied.

The Bible teaches us to speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with our hearts to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19). When our hearts are joyful and thankful to God, our outward expressions can influence and touch others too. Knowingly or unknowingly, our Christlikeness reveals a side of God in us, for the Holy Spirit dwells within us.

Are we growing in Christlikeness and revealing Christ in us? Are we Spirit-filled, always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God our Father? If we are not, then let us be careful how we walk—not as unwise men but as wise—that we may understand the will of God and express in kind the fruit of the Spirit (Ephesians 5:15-20; Galatians 5:22-23). Like in a mirror, let us behold the glory of the Lord as we see ourselves being transformed into His image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). Let our mouths be filled with laughter and our tongues with songs of joy for the Lord has done great things for us (Psalm 126:2-3). Who knows, God may even use our humming to restore someone’s soul.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Transform us Lord into Your image more and more each day as we walk in Your ways according to Your will. Fill our souls with Your joy Lord that we may not be fearful, uneasy, or overwhelmed by the cares of this world but to always be thankful, singing and making melody with our hearts to You.