Why I Sing (And Why You Should Too)
What Psalm 47 taught me about my DNA as a worshipper.
I have a secret joy to confess.
I love watching viral clips from America’s Got Talent, The Voice, and American Idol. There’s something that lights up my soul when a powerful, unexpected voice pours out of someone who looks like they shouldn't be able to sing like that. It stirs something deep inside me.
But you know what brings me even more joy?
Watching my daughters grab toy microphones and sing their hearts out. No, they don’t watch AGT or The Voice. What they’ve seen is worship—on Sunday stages, yes—but even more so, in our home. Worship is part of the atmosphere. It’s woven into the air we breathe.
What I didn’t realize at first was this: I was creating a culture of obedience through praise.
Why do we sing?
Psalm 47:1 says,
“Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.”
The Hebrew word for “shout” here is rinnah—a word that doesn’t just mean “noise.” It carries tones of victory, joyful song, and ringing cries like a people who’ve just seen their King triumph in battle.
That kind of singing can’t be manufactured. It’s evoked.
It’s not initiated—it’s a response.
We sing because we've seen something worth responding to. We’ve seen His glory. His mercy. His power. And our hearts can't stay silent.
Singing in the Bible
In ancient Israel, singing was woven into every part of life.
Victory songs – Exodus 15, Judges 5
Laments – Psalm 4, 88
Pilgrimage songs – Psalms of Ascent
Temple liturgies – 1 Chronicles 25
Feast songs – the Passover hymns
To be a child of God was to be a singing people. They didn’t sing to perform; they sang because they saw God’s hand in their story.
Even Jesus sang.
“When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” — Matthew 26:30
That would’ve been the Hallel Psalms (113–118), traditionally sung after the Passover meal. Think about this: the last recorded thing Jesus did before Gethsemane and the cross was singing.
And He wasn’t alone.
Paul and Silas sang from a prison cell (Acts 16:25). Beaten. Shackled. And singing.
Their worship became their warfare.
Their song cracked open their cell.
And the early church? They sang as a way of life.
“Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” — Ephesians 5:18–19
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” — Colossians 3:16
This wasn’t just something they did in the shower.
It was how they remembered truth, experienced God’s presence, and stayed spiritually alive.
Worship Is Warfare (And Wellness)
I’ve had the joy of growing in my faith through 10 years of Passion City Church music. I’ve spoken with Kristian Stanfill a few times and told him:
“What you do in five minutes, a preacher spends an hour trying to do.”
Why? Because true worship evokes humility. It opens us up. It prepares us to receive truth.
Science agrees.
Worship has been shown to:
Release dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin
Reduce stress and anxiety
Regulate heart rate
Strengthen lungs and core
Sharpen memory and brain plasticity
Build emotional resilience through community
Your biology was designed to respond to worship.
So singing isn’t just expression. It’s transformation.
Made to Sing
You were created to sing.
It’s in your design, in your spiritual DNA. Okay, so you may not be Josh Groban or Whitney Houston. But your heart is what matters.
When my daughters sing, they remind me what it looks like to worship unscarred. Unhindered. I have concluded that they have a sort of front row access to the throne, so I pay attention to them.
I’m challenged: not just to sing in my car or the shower.
But to sing boldly. Consistently. Purposefully.
Never Finished Challenge: SING
“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” — Psalm 40:3
Try this:
✅ Sing a Psalm
✅ Sing a worship song aloud (yes, out loud)
✅ Sing lyrics about what God has done in your life
✅ Bang on some drums (or a pan!)
✅ Laugh while you sing
✅ Let your kids hear it
Make praise physical by dancing, jumping, or shaking your sillies out (this song is legit).
You may not have the talent of an American Idol finalist.
But you have the DNA of a worshipper.
So sing. Loud. Off-key. From the heart.
A Caveat: What Are You Listening To?
Picture a crowd at a rap concert or a pop show—hands up, lyrics shouted, joy erupting. Lyrics evoke response. So if that’s true...
What are today’s lyrics doing to your soul?
When I was 22, I debated God about the music I was listening to when I worked out. I told Him I was “just listening to the beat” when I felt conviction about Eminem and 50 Cent. But in reality, the beat carried bitterness. The lyrics shaped my emotions, and the anger of my story stuck around longer than it should have.
So He helped me do something radical:
I turned off all secular music for over a decade. Just worship.
I’m not against all secular music. Some lyrics are beautiful and even redemptive. And yes, some worship songs lack theological depth. But what worship did to me and is doing for me—internally, spiritually—was and is life-altering. For thirteen years, worship music has transformed my inner being.
“But, James. I hate worship.”
Let the Holy Spirit curate your playlist.
Let Him lead what you fill your soul with.
What does today say about God?
I never imagined I’d write about singing.
But every time I open Scripture, I ask God to show me something new about Him. And today, He reminded me He’s a Singing God.
The most exciting part?
This discovery doesn’t end on earth.
Heaven is not the end of learning. It’s the beginning of endless worship and revelation.
We will never reach the bottom of God’s beauty.
So let’s start now.
Sing like someone who knows the King.
Worship like someone who’s been rescued.
Praise like someone who’ll never be finished.
What a King.
What a Father.
What a Friend.
Thank You, Jesus.