Cows moo.
Dogs bark.
Frogs croak…and so do I.

I wish it weren’t true, but wishing doesn’t make it so. Although comparing my singing to frogs’ croaking might even be insulting to the frogs.That’s why I often have mixed emotions whenever I read Bible verses encouraging or commanding us to sing praise to the Lord. Verses such as:

• “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High.” ~ Psalm 92:1 ESV
• “Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” ~ Psalm 100:2 ESV
• “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” ~ Colossians 3:16 ESV
• “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” ~ Hebrews 13:15 ESV

That last verse usually gets me. When the Bible speaks of a “sacrifice of praise,” I often wonder if those doing the sacrificing are the people around me as I belt out my praise off key!

My heart wants to sing out praise, loud and strong. When I’m alone, that’s exactly what I do. No worries about turned heads or raised eyebrows. No concerns about distracting people from their worship with my poor substitute for a melody.

But then I’m reminded that I’m not singing to anyone else, I’m singing to the Lord:

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day” (Psalm 96:1-2).

Even in public, my croaked praises are a sweet sound to God. When the praises in my heart overflow to my tongue, I’m joining with brothers- and sisters-in-Christ to praise our heavenly Father. Together, we glorify God!

Perhaps that’s why I take comfort in this verse:

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” ~ Psalm 95:1 ESV

Sing? No, I don’t do it well. Make a joyful noise? That I can do!

Will you join me?