The Voice is a powerful tool, a great gift from God that we can use to love him and one another. In the first story of our Judeo-Christian heritage, God’s creation was manifest from the sound of His voice. Each day of creation, His voice made something new and he saw that it was very good. This is the first time that we learn of the importance of singing, as the verbs “to speak", "to say", and "to sing” are so closely related in Hebrew that they are often interchangeable, as demonstrated by Talmudic scholars, and the sacred Hebrew poets throughout the centuries.

We should treat each day as an opportunity to sing to God, to show His love through the beauty and labor of the human voice. Inspired by joy, fear, and a love of God, various writers in the canon of the Hebrew Bible extol the faithful to sing a new song unto God, praising him for all that he does in his love for us. This theme is featured in Psalms 33 & 96, and Isaiah 42:10.

Each day we should take the opportunity to allow God to fill us with song, and keep His message of love in our hearts. We should allow our fears and our doubts to be consoled as we fill the air with a joyful noise. Every day that we have is a new beginning a new creation.

Music is a gift that pleases God, and is ultimately the greatest treasure in the world. Martin Luther put it best: "Neben dem Wort Gottes, ist die edle kunst der Musik der grosstte Schatz der Welt." "Beside the Word of God the noble art of Music is the greatest treasure in the world."

Loving God is a part of our calling in the Shema: “V'ahav'ta eit Adonai Elohekha b'khol l'vav'kha uv'khol naf'sh'kha uv'khol m'odekha.” "You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul and with all of your might." This means that we should love Him through our art, the words of music that pass through our lips shall be His.

Some questions to ask yourself as you sing: Am I doing this for God? Am I putting forth my best effort, with all of my heart to make a joyful noise? Am I trusting in God to have his love and his mercy flow through me today?

It is okay if the answer to some of these questions is 'no', but every day we should try for 'yes'. Let go of your fears and doubts, even if they seem inescapable.

Prayer for the Day: “Dear Father, creator of the world, the first song heard among the void and darkness, we ask that your voice and your breath of life fill us with tranquility and with love as we strive today to make a joyful noise unto your Grace. Protect us against our faults and tremblings, and guide us on a path to be your sheep among the pasture of your love. May we be inspired to come ever closer to your eternal embrace. We pray this in the name of the Father, and of the son and of the Holy Spirit.”

May you have blessings & life through His love today!