Some of my earliest memories are of my dad singing to me at bedtime.
I would take my beloved worn blanket with the faded balloons all over it, climb into his lap on the brown rocking chair in my room and suck my thumb while he read to me, prayed with me, and sang to me. He always sang Victory in Jesus; every night, without fail. Soon, the song had worked its way into my heart fibers and I was able to sing with him.
I couldn’t find a photo of our bedtime routine but here’s a gem showcasing my dad’s sweet fashion choices (I mean, it’s a nurse Bugs Bunny asking, “What’s up, doc?”—could it get any better?) and early signs of my love language of food sharing.
I believe our heavenly Father is much the same way.
“The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness;
He will quiet you by His love;
He will exult over you with loud singing.”
-Zephaniah 3:17
Here we see the true and better Father who sings over us and teaches our heart the melody in order to sing it back to Him. And not only to sing it back to Him, but to sing it with Him, offering Him a sacrifice of praise in the process. For what do we have to offer him that we didn’t first receive (1 Corinthians 4:7)?
His sufficient grace, as John Newton famously penned, has taught my heart to fear and also to sing. And what time of year is more familiar with hymns and melodies to “repeat the sounding joy” than this Advent season?
So, as we weave our way to December 25th and into the new year, may the soundtrack of our souls be the truth of the Gospel, the hope of all the world, the joy of every longing heart.
“’Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory’ (Rev. 19:6–7).
On into eternity the song echoes. It is the celebration chant of the redeemed. And one day we will join that multitude, no longer looking forward in hope but looking back with the security of redemption accomplished, and with the angels and the saints of old we too will sing glory songs about Jesus forever and ever and ever.
Yes, it is true: that night the angels began a song that will never ever end.
The Savior who rescued your heart now claims your song.
Have you joined the choir?”
-Paul David Tripp, Come, Let Us Adore Him
Sophie Miller 