The Voice

The Voice ~ one of the most powerful forces on earth. It is able to extend truth, spread lies, steal trust & save lives, begin wars, cease hate, expose the heart & with one utterance, create. The voice is a powerful tool, and we are blessed to wield it.  

Proverbs famously states;

“Life and death are in the power of the tongue”,

and I truly believe that we see this manifested in all spheres of life and the world. How we use our voice and what we lend it to and allow to flow from our tongues affects everything around us; our health, our worldview, our mental state, our beliefs, our influence, our connection with God and others, our hope, our lifestyle and most pointedly, discloses the state of one’s heart. 

This is a truth The Spirit frequently convicts me of. 

And when it comes to the voice, one of our most precious gifts is to raise it in song, in worship & praise to the creator & King. 

I believe there is an agenda against The Body of Christ and in turn, the physical body to silence us. I’m not saying to necessarily stop us from speaking or singing, for there are already far too many careless words and space-filling sounds we make. I’m talking about the deep, sacred, pure utterances of the New Heart that we have been given in Christ Jesus, the fragrant praises of the people of God, the heavenly sound of a measured, bridled and thoughtful tongue, and the distinctive melody of a lover & true worshiper of Jesus. 

We have a true & sacred gift, every one of us, and it is not to be subdued.

Many times I have heard people say, “I can’t sing.” and although I understand the sentiment of what they are saying, the reality is if you have a voice, then you can sing, AND the Lord wants to know your song. And even then, I believe that song comes from more than just the melodic stringing together of sounds; it is a state of being and an offering and even if you lack the physical ability to make a refined sound to the King, His eyes look at the Heart and the fragrant offering its purity presents. He is enthroned on the praises of His people. 

There is so much that rattles around in my brain when pondering on The Voice, so much I could say and discuss, but I truly do not wish to add further to the noise. Even after all these thoughts, it still feels insufficient to adequately share on the sacredness which is the gift and responsibility of the voice. I feel as though the purpose and intention of the voice and our wielding of it is illustrated so well in this passage from the bible, along with so many others. 

May you read and be encouraged and confronted with the beauty and anticipation of the reality of the state of eternity, which we are both living in and awaiting when in Christ.

And please, SING! It is His delight and our offering. 

Revelations 5:

5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign on the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!”

and the elders fell down and worshiped.