Singing in Your Heart

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:18-19

Drunkenness impairs one’s judgment. A drunken man will do things that he would never do if he were sober. It is obvious to everyone around him that he is drunk. You can tell by the way he walks, the way he talks, and the way he smells. His motor skills are impaired, and he no longer thinks clearly. He may say and do things that he will later regret. He is described as being “under the influence” of alcohol.

As Christians, we are to submit ourselves to an influence that will cause some changes in our behavior. We are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit continually dwells within every believer, but the filling of the Holy Spirit indicates an added measure of control over our actions and attitudes. A man or a woman who is filled with the Spirit will do things that he or she would not otherwise do. An evidence of the filling of the Holy Spirit is singing songs of praise to God. The phrase, speaking to yourselves, gives us a foothold as we begin to obey this command. We can decide to sing. We can choose to sing songs of praise to God. Psalm 22:3 indicates that God inhabits the praises of His people. The phrase, in your heart, shows us that we could choose to do this nearly any waking moment. Are you singing in your heart today?