SING YOUR STRESS AWAY

When we begin singing, stress evaporates as the hymns and gospel songs rejuvenate us. A few techniques will help us sing faith into the details of our lives.

Personalize the hymn texts. Search for personal teaching and applications in every hymn or gospel song you hear. Be ready for God to speak through the music. Ask yourself during congregational singing or choral renditions how this song speaks to your situation. Guard against singing ideas that you do not mean, such as "I'll go wherever You want me to go, dear Lord," or "A tent or cottage, why should I care?"
Play hymns in your mind during difficult times. Hum hymns of affirmation in periods of suffering or loss. Whistle tunes to strengthen courage in times of fearful ambiguity.
Sing aloud with gusto. This is a surprisingly effective way to imprint a song's message on your heart. Nothing starts a day better than singing a boisterous hymn in the shower. Regardless of musical ability, you can sing while driving alone in the car. Sing your affirmations to lower stress.
Sing prayers. Try singing your prayers. The hymnal, like the Bible, is filled with prayers of petition, confession, and praise. Pray them in song.
Sing as you exercise. The exercise craze allows time for meditative singing, and a song helps dispel boredom during a workout. Play a hymn in your mind as you run. Whistle while you walk, or hum a hymn as you ride your bike. Sing spiritual strength into your soul as you scrub, vacuum, or dust.
Ask family and friends to share their favorite hymns. Understanding what songs helped them on their faith journey will also sustain you. Besides, you might learn a few new songs.
Trace a song's influence in your life. When did you first hear "What a friend we have in Jesus?" Its influence for some started in childhood, but it took on special meaning for others during a time of difficulty. Perhaps it's time to re-hear a particular song for a current concern.
Use the hymnal's index as a spiritual development resource. In the hymnbook you'll find hymns organized around spiritual development concepts like assurance, consolation, grace, and peace. Learn the songs from the sections that are important to you at that moment in your life.
Sing dark moods away. During the black night of the soul, a flicker of the dawn's early light often comes while singing. It is almost impossible to fret or worry while singing.
Listen for a hymn's meaning. Seek the poetry and inner meaning of the music. Listen with fresh ears to hymns and discover new meaning in familiar words. God provides liberation through music even when stress has us pinned to the mat.

From Spirituality God's Rx for Stress: 60 Ways to Get Your Soul in Shape by Neil B. Wiseman. Copyright (c) 1992 by Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, Mo. Used by permission. To order copies call: 1-800-877-0700.

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