Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

One evening at a church service, I was watching a little four year old boy during the Praise & Worship. This little boy was dancing so freely and from his heart to the Lord. He had his hands raised to the Lord in worship and was just a pure joy to watch. As I watched this little boy I was reminded of two verses, Psa 8:2″From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise….” And, “MAT 18:4“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” I thought, this little boy is just having a time before the Lord and doesn’t even know enough to care what others think. Praise God for the innocent. If we as adults could just get that free and easily worship the Lord, Oh how it would positively affect our lives.

A few years ago I was leading our Men’s Advance the weekend before Thanksgiving. I had all the men take on a spiritual task that I was sure would make them uncomfortable. At the same time, I was confident it would bless them when all was said and done. I asked them to sit down and write a thank you letter to the Lord. I asked them to write a beautiful letter from their heart really letting the Lord know how thankful they were for the many things He had done for them. We were away up at a camp by a lake and surrounded by a forest. The men all took their tablets, went off by themselves, and began to write. Before they left, I told them there was one other thing they had to do upon completing the letter to the Lord. They had to create a melody and sing it to the Lord.

I was helping them to see that when we read through the Psalms, this is the experience we are reading. David would sing his heart or love letters to the Lord. The men actually kept a good attitude and went for it. They were surprised that they had a new, deep, and in most cases quite emotional encounter with God. When the weekend was over, most had shared that it was one of the most powerful and intimate experiences they had ever had with the Lord.

Eph 5:19-21 says “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Learning to sing your words of thanksgiving to God from your heart can be a continuing and awesome way to share your thanks to the Lord. He is truly worthy of this sacrifice of praise! And, don’t forget this Biblical truth – Praise quiets your mind and emotions, it helps you detach from the cares of this world, and stills the voice of the enemy!

I started to make up and sing songs of thanks to the Lord from my heart years ago. Now I sing to the Lord from my heart almost daily. (I’m a closet singer and songwriter. No real talent – just love to do it!) The ways in which it draws you close to the Lord and transforms your heart is beyond words! Besides, it’s our future destiny anyway – Rev 5:9 “And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
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