Sometimes, our worship begins as a decision of the will, rather than as an immediate overflow of the heart. That’s because sometimes life is tough, the path ahead is the very opposite of clear, and circumstances seem set to overwhelm us.
In these times, our worship begins as a choice. We remember promises from God’s Word, His faithfulness in past times, and many answered prayers. We look to God’s character to remind ourselves that we have no reason to ever doubt His love for us, or His sovereignty over all events and situations.
On several occasions, we see the psalmist overwhelmed by their circumstances, yet not being able to come to any conclusion other than a ‘yet-will-I’ decision to bring praise to God. In Psalm 42, the psalmist asks, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God.” In Psalm 121, David similarly instructs himself to ‘look up’: “I lift my eyes up to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
We know that even when storms - whatever form they take - threaten our security, we stand upon a solid Rock that can never be shaken. Despite our circumstances, ‘yet will I praise Him’ is a powerful declaration of faith and trust, knowing that we have a God who never leaves, never forsakes, and who knows and cares about every detail of our lives.
This is the heart of our song, ‘Come now (Praise until I PRAISE)’. Sometimes we do need to ‘praise until we PRAISE’ – to choose to remember God’s promises, His actions, His incredible track-record in our lives that began with Him choosing us in love, saving us by grace and bringing us into countless blessings, including a glorious future beyond our imagining. As we remember these things, our confidence builds, we see the One who is really in control, our heads and hearts are lifted, and trust and faith are declared.
This track is a ‘Simmonds family production’, made at home with the help of some talented friends – Brayden Slade on guitar, and the awesome sibling singers, Anna Virkler, Matthew Irving and Rachel Irving. As well as co-producing, our son Matt Simmonds provided vocals, bass and drums and Miles co-produced and played keys. Thanks to everyone involved; it has been a labour of love and we pray that, when it is needed, this song will help heads to be lifted and praise to be PRAISED.
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