Press the arrow to listen to Robbie Seay Band sing “Song of Hope” while you read today’s devotion.

Scripture
For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time he fled from Saul and went into the cave. To be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
until the danger passes by.
I cry out to God Most High,
to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. Psalm 57:1-2

Observation
David was creative under pressure. While most would be pacing, David was working out rhyme and rhythm of his latest lyrics. How did he do it? David turned each sigh into a song.

All of his songs display emotional honesty. He did not whistle a happy tune, he took time to be sad, angry or desperate in the presence of God. As Bill Hybels says, he learned to “ventilate vertically”. Passing through the emotion David was able to discover that space in God’s heart where there is permission to improvise, invent and envision. When we bring the whole of ourselves to the Lord we find God’s center, a place of creativity.

Application
We may write our own song or we may borrow one from another, but we must learn this secret of emotional honesty in God’s presence. Songs are made from life just as much as songs are the thing life is made of. How many fresh ideas do we miss out on because we are allowing our emotions to play at our heart strings rather than playing them back to the Lord.

Prayer
Father, I’m no where near David’s skill of writing and composing, but whether its with an iPod or a radio station, let me be one who turns the sigh into a song.