“Sing. Sing a song. Sing out loud. Sing out strong. Sing of good things not bad. Sing of happy not sad.” So sang the brother and sister singing duo the Carpenters back in 1973.

There’s lots of reasons to raise your voice in song – especially a spiritual song or hymn. Why? Because this kind of music has the power to increase happiness, make you feel good, lift your spirits up, and remind you of God’s love and care for you – especially in challenging times.

What’s more, joining your voice with others at home, in a choir, a classroom, on zoom, or in church, is strengthening and empowering. It inspires joyfulness and magnifies unity. As singers, you become “Like brother birds that soar and sing and on the same branch bend”. Words from a poem by the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, titled Love.

Singing individually or collectively, provides an opportunity to give voice to simple, heartfelt words of caring, peace, harmony and gratitude to God. Instead of staying silent when life gets tough, making a special point to recall the good you’re grateful for, or to rejoice and give thanks to God for His loving care, is restorative and health-bringing.

You don’t have to be the greatest vocalist in the world. Anyone can do it or join in. In fact the Bible actively encourages us. “O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms”. KJ Bible Psalms 95:1,2.

To sing in trying moments, is heartening and brings that mental freedom which is good for one’s health and well being. It can also lead to physical release. This is something a much-loved pet canary found out. One day, it was mistakenly shut inside an empty cupboard. No one knew where it had gone. This clever bird decided to take action. Rather than sit silently entombed in darkness, it started to sing with great gusto. As a result, the family soon found their feathered vocal-dynamo and was able to set him free.

You can be mentally and physically free too. If you’re feeling down-in-the-dumps, warm up your vocal cords and sing. It’s hard to remain gloomy when you sing out joyously. Pick a spiritual song or hymn with reassuring words, and make some noise. Fill your heart with gratitude for God’s love, sing about His care and the good you have in your life.

Now it may take some mental effort, but if you do this, you’ll find that it lifts your thinking and brings healthful results. Remember, you don’t have to remain engulfed by dark thoughts of fear. You can let the words of a liberating, joy-bringing spiritual song or hymn, light up your thinking and set you free. So, don’t wait. Sing out – and do it often.

Related:
Find comfort, encouragement, inspiration, and healing. Listen to 11 spiritual solos composed and sung by Beverly Goldsmith, C.S.B. This new Spiritual Solo page is listed under the INSPIRATION tab.