A Small Daily Practice: Singing to Praise God

Scribe

Jun 8, 2025 — 5 min read

This year—2025—I began including singing worship songs as part of my daily walk with God. I’ll be honest: singing has never really been “my thing.” I was in choir as a kid and through middle school, but nothing since. Randomly breaking into song doesn’t come naturally to me.

But as I’ve deepened my daily spiritual practices, I couldn’t ignore what Scripture says—especially in Psalms, one of my favorite books. Over and over, the Bible calls us to sing praise to the Father. Not just think. Not just read. Sing.

So I started slowly. I found hymns and worship songs on YouTube and began singing along each day. What surprised me wasn’t the act of singing—it was the presence of God that met me in it.

One hymn, in particular, has become sacred ground in my worship:

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”

Yes, I know—most people call it a Christmas song. But the more I sang it, the more I realized: this is not seasonal.
This is year-round worship—a cry for God to dwell with us, to rescue, to reign. It’s ancient. And it’s powerful.

I dug deeper into its origins. The English version was translated in 1851 by John Mason Neale, a priest and scholar who helped recover many ancient hymns for modern worship. What really caught me was this:

Neale was part of the Oxford Movement, a group of 19th-century Christians rediscovering the ancient paths of worship—the very same kind of journey I’m on now.

It turns out “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is based on Latin hymns from the early church, dating as far back as the 8th century—used in Advent, yes, but rooted in daily longing for Christ to come and reign.

So here I am in 2025, singing a hymn that was recovered in 1851, drawn from chants written in the 700s... and it speaks directly to my soul.

Coincidence? No. Sovereign God.

Singing has become a sacred thread in my day—not because it sounds good, but because it reconnects me to the eternal.
And sometimes... God uses a song to remind you:

What Is a Small Daily Song?

It’s a humble, spirit-level offering rooted in the example of King David and the early Church: each day, you sing — not for others, not for performance — but for God alone.

You might sing:

A worship song you know
A passage of Scripture (like a Psalm)
A simple hymn
Or even a spontaneous melody from your heart

It doesn’t have to sound beautiful. It just has to be real. Because singing does something that talking can’t — it opens the soul and offers it upward like incense.

Many times, God will give you a particular Scripture or hymn to sing over and over again. That simple song becomes a bridge between you and the presence of God. Every time you return to it, it draws you in again. Sing it with reverence. Let it glorify Him.

Why Do It?

Because Scripture commands us plainly:

“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!” — Psalm 96:1 “Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs...” — Ephesians 5:18–19

Singing:

Draws the mind into God’s presence
Softens the heart
Trains the soul to rejoice, even in sorrow
Fights back fear, despair, and distraction

The early Church Fathers said that singing Scripture trains the whole person — body, mind, and spirit — to remember who God is and who we are.

What Happens When You Practice It?

As you sing daily to the Lord, you:

Shift the atmosphere of your day
Invite God’s presence into ordinary moments
Break the heaviness that silence sometimes holds
Declare truth into your home, your mind, your soul
Push back the darkness and cultivate joy

The early Christians believed that when we sing to God, the angels listen.

In a little-known early Christian text called The Shepherd of Hermas, believers were shown in a vision how songs of praise on earth rise into heaven and are heard by God and His angels. The idea wasn’t that our songs had to be perfect — just pure, sincere, and offered from the heart.

Even now, when you sing to God in your living room, car, or backyard — heaven hears.

Wait—What Is The Shepherd of Hermas?

The Shepherd of Hermas is a Christian writing from the 2nd century, often read in the early church alongside Scripture for encouragement and instruction.

While it’s not part of the Bible, it was highly respected by many early Christians for its insight into repentance, humility, and walking closely with God.

Think of it like a spiritual classic — not a source of doctrine, but a mirror to help believers reflect on their lives with sincerity. Like Pilgrim’s Progress for the early church, it’s full of visions, parables, and spiritual encouragement.

In one vision, Hermas sees the faithful building a tower for God, and those who sing with joy are described as being full of the Spirit, their voices welcomed in heaven.

The message is clear:

God hears when His people sing. Even the angels pause to listen.

Where Did This Practice Come From?

This practice is deeply rooted in Scripture and the early Christian tradition:

David sang to God in caves, fields, and courts — even when hunted and betrayed
Paul and Silas sang in chains
The Desert Fathers memorized Scripture by singing it
St. John Chrysostom taught that “nothing lifts the soul like singing to God”

Singing isn’t just decoration. It’s devotion.

Who Was John Chrysostom?

John Chrysostom (c. 349–407 AD) was one of the greatest preachers and theologians of the early Church—and one of the most powerful voices in Christian history on prayer, humility, and worship, especially singing.

What Did He Teach About Singing?

John Chrysostom saw singing to God as essential to the spiritual life—both in private and in the church. Here's a quote that reflects what you referenced:

“Nothing so uplifts the soul, gives it wings, sets it free from the earth, and delivers it from the bonds of the body... as harmonious singing and divine psalmody.”
— Homily on Psalm 41

In another place, he said:

“When we sing psalms, the devil flies away.”

Why Did He Emphasize It?

Chrysostom believed that:

Singing rewires the heart toward God
It drives out evil thoughts and demonic influence
It was the spiritual rhythm of both angels and saints
It was an act of warfare, healing, and purification

He frequently urged congregational singing—not as performance, but as a weapon of worship, especially using the Psalms.

7 Day Challenge

“Try This for One Week”

Day 1: Sing a song you love (e.g., “Amazing Grace” or “What a Beautiful Name”).
Day 2: Sing Psalm 23—make up a tune if you want!
Day 3: Sing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (find it on YouTube).
Day 4: Sing a line from Scripture, like “The Lord is my strength.”
Day 5: Sing a spontaneous prayer in your own words.
Day 6: Sing a hymn your parents or grandparents loved.
Day 7: Sing to thank God for what He’s shown you this week.
End with: “Notice how God meets you. You might be surprised!” This structure feels inviting and low-stakes.

How Do I Start?

Choose a moment—first thing in the morning, in the shower, on a walk, or before bed.
Then simply sing to God.

No stage, no audience, no perfection needed. Just this:

“Lord, this is my voice. You gave it to me.
So I lift it back to You.
Not to perform, but to praise.
Not to impress, but to draw near.
Receive this small song as worship.”

Link to the version of O Come O Come Emmanuel I enjoy singing with