reading book "The Hour That Changes The World"

Hello, Companion Mustard Seed Library book readers,

Continuing on in exploring this book which Joyce has contributed for possible inclusion in the Mustard Seed Library.

The author, Dick Eastman, is writing about prayer. He has scoured the scriptures for guidance in the way to pray and starts out in the beginning by relating that Jesus taught the disciples to pray "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name." Further Mr. Eastman relates that the word "hallowed" is a New Testament expression used only in reference to the name of God. The Greek word for our word "hallow" is "hagiazo" meaning "to revere or to sanctify.

Mr. Eastman writes also that "A major reason for offering praise early in prayer is the fact that, in its very nature, praise is unselfish. Paul Billheimer relates, "Here is one of the greatest values of praise: it decentralizes self. The worship and praise of God demands a shift of center from self to God. One cannot praise God without relinquishing occupation with self. Praise produces forgetfulness of self--and forgetfulness of self is health. We soon discover spiritual health has its root in divine adoration."

Interestingly this author also writes "Words of adoration combined with a melody from the heart lead to praise in its most beautiful form. Martin Luther expressed it thus, "The gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to man that he should proclaim the Word of God through music." And then Mr. Eastman finds all these scriptural references that speak of singing praises unto the Lord. Forty one Psalms speak of it. The Apostle Paul speaks of "making melody" in our hearts unto the Lord with "spiritual songs". The author has found many, many, many instances in the Bible where people are singing unto the Lord. We sing during worship service and especially pray the Psalms through the singing of them. I suspect many of us go around the house singing too, maybe singing while driving in our cars, etc., but this author introduces a kind of interesting perspective on our singing. "Indeed, singing unto the Lord is especially important because it trains us in many new areas of worship. Ultimately, worship will be our ETERNAL PURPOSE in heaven, and singing will be a great part of this eternal purpose."

Mr. Eastman takes a look at the Biblical psalmist: "I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee." (Psalm 144:9)
"New" refers to something fresh. "A new song" means "my own song," not someone else's. It refers to a song from my heart that I have never sung before. Yesterday's song does not qualify under this category of singing. The theme may be similar but the song will be new. Of course, all the various themes for singing may fall under this category if we have never sung the melody or words previously. Even the singing of a scripture in a new way can be a "new song" from my heart."

Actually, Mr. Eastman, is suggesting that we can sing during our private prayers to God and that this singing "is to play so vital a role in heaven's worship, surely it would do the believer well to "practice up" for the day we unite together in heavenly song to minister unto the Lord in our eternal Zion." There is a tremendous fascination in me for people who can improvise during singing and yet still stay on the foundation of the melody. There is a tremendous fascination in me for scripture and, now just reading this book, there is a tremendous fascination in me for what the author is proposing--that scripture guides us in the spiritual benefits of singing praises unto the Lord, not only corporately in Sunday worship but also privately in all of our daily praying. And that we all can sing a "new song", that each of us does contain that potential within us. That our new songs do not divide us from community but even more deeply unite us in community. That our private praying/worshipping and corporate praying/worshipping could in more essentials that I realized before be joined together.

Do you sing sometimes or maybe even often your praying? Thank you for the songs in your hearts that "Satan cannot endure" and which the author believes "Prayer rises more easily, more spontaneously, after one has let those wings, words, and music, carry one out of oneself into that upper air."

God bless,
Sharon