The following is a devotion from my message series 10 Steps to Freedom. I hope these devotionals help you experience lasting freedom in Jesus!

STEP SEVEN: day 3

Fully engage in worship to strengthen your soul

The Old Testament people of Israel knew the power of worship and the connection that singing had to strengthening your soul. One of the great powers of singing is that it is a divinely created way for you to speak directly to your soul. That’s why worshipping through singing is such a vital aspect to your freedom, not because singing will make all of your problems go away but because worshipping through song is a way to speak directly to and strengthen your soul, and your soul or spirit needs to be the strongest muscle in your body if you want to experience lasting freedom.

In the Old Testament, the longest book is a collection of songs that the nation would sing. The book of Psalms was the hymn book of ancient Israel, and in Psalm 42 the lyrics speak to the connection worship has to the soul:

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:1, 5

The psalmist is utilizing the power of song to preach or speak directly to his soul, to strengthen and fortify it by reminding himself of his faith and hope in God above. When you fully lean into and engage in worship through singing, you’ll discover that you’re preaching to yourself, you’re preaching to your soul. This vastly under-utilized weapon for your freedom is one that you need to strengthen if you want a soul strong enough to secure your freedom.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. What is your favorite type of worship music? (There are no wrong answers, as long as it’s worship!)
2. How have specific worship songs in the past lifted your spirits (or strengthened your soul)? How intentional are you currently in regularly engaging in worship through singing? When can you sing today?

You can read other devotional entries for 10 Steps to Freedom here.