Music: My Love Language to God

I discovered that music was my love language to God when I was in Turkey. Since I couldn’t walk around the streets of Istanbul or Ankara singing, I just didn’t ever sing in the first week or so of my time there. After a while, I began to feel suffocated. (I would imagine it was kind of like getting to email or write your significant other but never getting to hear his/her voice.) So I had no choice but to smuggle a song in whenever I could from then on. The transformation was amazing.

I was reminded of my special language to my Lord tonight. I was working at the church after everybody else was gone, so I decided to play the piano on my way out. The only lights were shining on the altar –everything else was dark. It was just me and my God in His sanctuary. I’m not an amazing piano player by any means…I wouldn’t even classify myself as good. But regardless of my skill, I have always played my best when my Father is the only One listening. Now, it’s not like He transforms me from an 8-year-old plunking “Chopsticks” to a virtuoso performing Chopin –although He could (and I would like it). But it is amazing how He turns my weakness into something beautiful for Him…for His pleasure alone.

It is somewhat like my daddy listening to me practice my saxophone when I first began playing in the fourth grade. I’m sure it was nothing short of pitiful; but Daddy enjoyed listening to me. Yet, if he could have turned me into Kenny G, he would have because he knew we would both enjoy the music so much more. That’s what my Heavenly Father does when I sit down to love Him on the piano. How can anyone deny that Yahweh is personal and intimate?

Music is my love language to the Lord. Singing is how I declare my love to Him before others. But playing the piano…that’s how I whisper my love to Him, from my heart to His.

WRITTEN: November 20, 2006