Do you remember the song with the refrain, "Just sing, sing a song"? I took that song quite literally as a child. By practicing its lesson I triumphed over some of my greatest fears and got through some very tough times. Sometimes the lyrics or words of the song helped me. Other times it was only the sound of the music. Many times in my life I would sing a song just to praise God.

When I was singing I could overcome certain mental situations. A chorus of "Jesus loves me" would remind me I wasn't alone in the world. Singing a catchy show tune could lift my spirits. Singing the lyrics to a sad song might make me cry because I related my sadness to the song, but I always felt better afterwards. Even as an adult I often use song to ease my mood, sorrow, or just to express joy in the day.

Anywhere, anytime

A song can be sung anywhere, anytime. You can sing with or without music, inside or outside, in front of people or alone. There are no limitations! You don't even need to sing in tune. You'll still enjoy it and, when singing praises to God, He will enjoy it, no matter what you sound like. He even tells us in Psalm 100:1 to make a "joyful noise" (KJV).
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Throughout the Bible, people praised God with song. Exodus 15 is an entire song that Moses and the children of Israel sang. In verse 21 Miriam answers their song with, "Sing to the Lord."

In Exodus 32:18 we find that, "It is not the voice of those who shout in victory, nor is it the voice of those who cry out in defeat, but the voice of those who sing that I hear." 1 Chronicles 16:23 says, "Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day." And the entire book of Psalms shows how important song is to God and His people.

A song can teach

My family has seen the many benefits of song in teaching, since we home school. Want to learn your phone number? Make up a song that rhymes with the last digit. You can learn math, the alphabet, a foreign language and how much God loves us and we Him. A song can bring the simplest of things or the most difficult to light in the brain. It's so much easier to remember a song. Didn't most of us learn our ABCs this way? Singing hymns or other spiritual songs can help us remember lines of Scripture and how much God cares about us.

Choral Group

Song can bring us moments of great joy and positive emotion. I remember my first Feast of Tabernacles in Wisconsin. The congregation stood to sing "God Speaks to Us" accompanied by a small orchestra. The music boomed through and filled the chilly auditorium. I started to weep before the end of the first verse. The sound of the music, the words and all the people singing them together were very moving. It was a moment in my life that I will never forget.

The power of song

I'm always saddened when I see one or two people who aren't joining in the singing of a group. I wonder what keeps them from it. Are they too ill to sing, or are they embarrassed? Do they not know the words to the song or just not know the peace, joy and release it can offer?

We take for granted the power of song. Think how often you sing along with the car radio or have the radio along with you by the pool or at the beach. Even stores know that if they play music you will stay in their store longer, be more comfortable and possibly buy more. As long as we sing songs with good content, we will feel good. If you haven't tried it, you should. It may just change your life. There is a certain release in song.

Read Psalm 9:11: "Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people."

Song can renew us. Help us get through a hard day's work, soothe us after such a day, make us laugh, cry or make us feel closer to God. Love songs often bring us closer to one another. Silly songs may make us laugh. (We all know that laughter is good for us.) And what is more fun than sitting down with a child and singing out his or her favorite song? That smiling face looking back at you while you share this time together makes it all worthwhile.

How many days I have caught myself singing a song about the solar system or some such thing without even realizing it, and then smiling when I've realized it because it was just so much fun. I must admit, sometimes I sing these songs most consciously, because they are just so much fun!

So remember how wonderful song can be in your life--all parts of your life--and take a moment and "just sing, sing a song."