https://odb.org/2026/07/22/rhythms-of-joy
Psalm 30:4–12 (NIV): 4 Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
6 When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”
7 LORD, when you favored me, you made my royal mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.
8 To you, LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 “What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me; LORD, be my help.”
11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.
A scientific study—which sought to explore how much of people’s musical sensitivity is cultural and how much of it is instinctual—played drum rhythms for newborn babies while monitoring their brain wave activity. Occasionally, the researchers would omit a beat from the rhythm. Amazingly, they found the infants’ brain waves spiked right when the note was left out—showing their young minds were already anticipating that beat and reacting to its absence.
The study brings to mind the amazing way that God has created us. He’s even wired us to embrace the wonderful gift of music and respond to it with joy and, as the psalmist David writes in Psalm 30, to respond to God’s grace with music of our own—songs of “praise [to] his holy name” (v. 4). (Monica La Rose, Our Daily Bread 22nd July 2026)
If you’ve read these blog pages for some time, you’ll know by now that I got to know Jesus by learning how to play the guitar at around 13 to 14 years of age when a group of outstation teachers opened their house to reach out to us local students in my small town of Pasir Puteh, Kelantan. A few years later, I joined a church in Kota Bharu whose congregation worshipped a capela and thus there was an opening for me to play the guitar when I was better at it. That was the start of my involvement in the music ministry and it has been for more than 40 years now.
Even prior to all that, I used to follow my paternal grandmother to the St Michael’s Catholic church in Ipoh and was fascinated by the Latin songs sung then during mass. It had such a calming effect. Later, a year or two after I accepted Christ (but before I joined the Kota Bharu church), I had the opportunity to visit a church in Kuala Krai. It was my first encounter of a worship leader singing in the spirit and I would describe that experience as exhilarating. It was fascinating and uplifting. I certainly did not perceive it as strange but was much encouraged by it. Weeks later, I played along during worship and realised that it wasn’t difficult as the church sang mostly in one key and the songs were usually 4-chord choruses!
I’m sure we all have our fair share of experience in church music, whether in a simple set up like a house fellowship or a youth gathering in our youth or in bigger churches with a full band complete with in ear monitors and sophisticated sound systems and instruments. It is confirmed that music is one of the God-given ways we could touch God’s throne, invite His presence and allow Him to reach out to our spirit and hearts. Music in worship needs to be felt and experienced. It’s not head knowledge. We feel it through our ears and our other senses.
The next time we are in church, immerse ourselves in the music and the songs as we worship Him. Give Him all glory and honour. Let our hearts be edified and our souls be exalted. Let us be filled by the overflowing grace and mercy from the throne of the LORD our God our Heavenly Father as all creation and the angels and heavenly beings worship Him in all His glory!
Ronnie's Thoughts 