I was at the Festival of Hope last weekend.  It was an inspiring evening full of songs and testimonies that touches the hearts of young people.  Rev. Graham shared the message of the Gospel.  By God’s grace, hundreds of people went down and responded to the Gospel message.

This morning’s devotion draws me to Psalm 149:1 “Praise the LORD, sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints.”  The artists at the concert were famous Christian bands.  They were singing new songs in pop, R &B, rap, rock style that are relevant to the culture of the young people.  People rushed to the front and jump up and down with excitement with musics that expresses one’s love for Jesus Christ.

The  last time Billy Graham Foundation came to Toronto was in 1995.  My teens were asking me, “I really felt God’s presence and the music spoke powerfully.”  Let’s go again next year.  There are powerful worship experiences at Teens Conference, Urbana Conference, at Camps, at Hillsong Concerts…  I cannot count on going to events after events to get the spiritual high.  The people of Israel did not have the conferences with fancy sound systems.  They lived out the reality in the Psalm by singing and playing their ancient instruments for what God did for them.  The artists were able to deliver powerful songs because of their intimate personal relationship with God.

How about myself?  When I sing praise songs during personal devotional and church worship, am I singing with the reality of what God did for me personally?