I was at a women’s tea last night at a new church I am attending when I was gently corrected by the Lord. HE will correct us, if… we let HIM.

As the worship leader went on and on in my mind repeating the same verse, I am ashamed to say, I was becoming annoyed. My thoughts went to teachings about music and how a new trend in church is to use it to set the mood; pump us up; get us in a spiritual frame of mind, and so on. Hence my annoyance. I was thinking okay, we’re there already lets move on, please.

But were we? Was I?

I almost missed it!

The Holy Spirit gently whispered, open your Bible to Ephesians. I did. Read Ephesians 5:19. I did. I was instantly rebuked. HE said that is what you (this group of ladies) are doing right now, speaking to one another singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs in my presence, and I AM PLEASED.

I repented.

The sounds of the sopranos, the altos, and even the off keyed voices suddenly sounded beautiful to me. It was no longer about the words being sung, I could feel the hearts that were singing praises to their Lord and affectively encouraging one another. They became a beautiful choir of loving daughters with angelic voices. I was taken up with the melody that had now filled my heart. I had almost missed it. I no longer cared about what food had been served, or not. I gave no mind to little unruly frustrations that can sneak in and attack a group of women to distract them from HIM. I didn’t care how many times a chorus was repeated. My heart was full of those beautiful spiritual songs that my sisters were singing to me.

We can sing songs to the Lord anytime, day and night, alone in worship – but in corporate worship we are obeying a command by “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). That scripture just took on a whole new meaning to me. Worship (corporate worship, just like corporate prayer) is not just about the worshiper – it is about the hearer too.

Sing sisters – SING!

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A little side note to self: if you are annoyed by others worshipping our Lord, the problem is most likely you (or at least, your own heart) get right, don’t miss out!