Music: A Spiritual Blessing

"Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

who has blessed us in the heavenly realms

with every spiritual blessing in Christ!"

Ephesians 1:3, NIV

At the age of 9, I knew that music was my passion and my joy. I knew I was grateful to God for the gift of music. I knew that I could not keep myself from singing, listening to music, dreaming of music, and entertaining thoughts of becoming a great musician someday.

Music is my blood.

I grew up in a family where music was heard all the time. My sister's radio was almost always on a station that played music all day long. Papi played the trumpet, sang beautifully, and was a choir director. Manmie sang to me and taught me numerous songs and choruses. My siblings and I sang in four-part harmony, one brother played the guitar, the other brother played both the guitar and the trumpet, one sister played the trumpet, and together we made music quite often.

Music is my inspiration.

I was greatly inspired by a pianist from my church. I remember sitting on the piano side of the church just so I could watch his fingers flying, gliding, and dancing up and down the ivory keys. I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

I was also inspired by a classical guitarist from my church who was so incredibly talented that his music would bring me to tears. Heavenly sounds emanated from his guitar when he played Softly and Tenderly, Amazing Grace, and The Old Rugged Cross.

Choral music from my church also brought great inspiration to me as an aspiring musician. The singers sang with passion whether they were singing with or without instrumental accompaniment. The rich harmonies gave me goosebumps as I listened to them sing Sunday after Sunday.

Though I loved listening to many musicians, there was one specific singer from the church of my childhood who inspired me like no one else. Her contralto voice was like none other possessing a dark and rich timbre and depths of passion the likes of which I cannot begin to describe. I decided that I would become a singer who would sing the praises of God just like her.

Music is my spiritual blessing.

But I did not realize music was a spiritual blessing in Christ. I did not realize that music was being used by God to draw me closer to Him. I did not realize that, through the song texts I absorbed, a deep and rich spiritual message was being deposited into my heart. I did not realize that God was merely renewing His invitation to me for greater intimacy with Him. I did not realize that my heart was being primed to long for the greatest love available to humans -- the agape love of Christ.

Father, Your attention to detail, nuance, and contour simply never ceases to amaze me on this journey of faith. You spare no expense, You waste no opportunity, and You neglect no effort to draw me closer to You. How can I ever thank You enough?