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Ring Those Bells
By Susanne Scheppmann
Key Verse:
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” (Psalms 28:7 NIV)
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” (Psalms 28:7 NIV)
Devotion:
Handbell
choirs mesmerize me. The month of December draws out the talented musicians who
have the ability to play the shiny golden bells. The Christmas carols they
create are clear and bright, lifting the listeners’ spirits as the notes ascend
toward heaven.
Handbells
originated in the late 1600s. They first appeared in churches which had bell
towers. Their first purpose was to help the bell ringers learn and perfect the
art of handling the massive church bells which tolled to announce special
decrees, community events, and public warnings. Over time, the handbells were
designed to produce superior musical tones. Each bell began making a
distinctive musical note. So instead of being just a bell used for practice,
they became a musical instrument. Eventually the bells were used to play for
congregations who soon became enraptured by the beauty of the recognizable
hymns.
To
me the ringing of the bells seems like a giant puzzle. I shake my head in
wonder and then ponder, “How do they chime in such perfect rhythm and harmony?”
This synchronized ringing of various bells involves a musical skill that is far
beyond my capability. Yet, with their clear distinctive tones, they inspire me
to recognize the glory of God. They signal me to praise God in my own unique
style.
Although I cannot play the handbells, my heart
sings with joy at what God has done in my life. My heart is an instrument of
faith—our hearts are instruments of
faith. Author Abraham Herschel described
faith and our hearts as, “Faith is not
the clinging to a shrine. But an endless pilgrimage of the heart, audacious
longing, burning songs, daring thoughts, impulse overwhelming the heart,
usurping toward these are all a drive to love the one who rings our heart like
a bell.”
This
month our hearts are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The remembrance of
this divine event should drive us to “love the one who rings our heart like a
bell.” Our key verse states, “My heart leaps with joy and I will give thanks to
him in song.” As a sisterhood of believers, let’s celebrate with a joyful song
in our hearts for the blessed Incarnation of our Lord Jesus.
For the remaining days
of December, let’s agree to unite our hearts in a choir of praise to God. Let’s
allow our families, coworkers and communities to see the joy that rings true
and bright in a cold, thoughtless world.
Let those heart bells
ring!
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I praise You today. Thank you for giving
us music. Thank you for allowing our hearts to overflow with the
acknowledgement of Your goodness. Help us to sing your praises during this
month of celebration for the birth of Jesus. Allow our hearts to become a hymn
of praise. Let our hearts become songs of faith in Your Hands. In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Application
steps:
Read
Psalm 28:6-9. Write in a journal the ways that God has shown mercy in your
life. Note how He is your strength and shield. Write down how He helps you
daily. Consider how He acts as your Shepherd and how He carries you through
difficulties.
Reflections:
Does
my heart leap for joy? (Psalm 28:7)
Do
I sing God’s praises? (Psalm 28:7)
How
can I share my joy-filled heart during the Christmas season?
Power
verses:
Isaiah 49:13. “Shout for joy, O heavens;
rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord comforts his
people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.” (NIV)
Ephesians 3:16-17, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (NIV)
Deuteronomy
16:14, “Be joyful at your Feast--you, your sons and daughters, your menservants
and maidservants, and the Levites, the aliens, the fatherless and the widows
who live in your towns.” (NIV)
© 2010 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.
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