Raise a Hallelujah

Song written by: Jonathan David Helser, Melissa Helser, Molly Skaggs
Performed by: Bethel Music

Welcome to the second weekly devotional!  I am so thankful to God that you have chosen to stick it out for another week.

Let me begin by praying that God would speak to your heart this week as you study the song "Raise a Hallelujah." Thank you, Lord, that we can grow closer to you through expressing our praise via a song.

As I was preparing to begin the second devotional, I spent quite some time deciding which song to choose.  Quite frankly, the decision to do "Do It Again" last time came so easily to me that I wasn't quite sure how to choose this second one.  This time around, I struggled for quite some time.I half-heartedly settled on "Raise a Hallelujah" on a Saturday.  The very next morning, attending church, guess what song they included in the set list and tied to the sermon?  You guessed it – Raise a Hallelujah.

Maybe you think that's coincidence.  Not me.I see that as a sign from God.  While I may not have audibly heard him tell me which song to choose, I know God was speaking to me in church as we sang this song.  Isn't our God amazing?

I mentioned before I "half-heartedly" chose this song.  It wasn't because I don't love this song; let me tell ya, I positively LOVE this song right now.  To me, it's so full of hope and excitement.I can't tell you how many times I've had this song come on and just belted my heart out singing the lyrics.  It causes me to dance...it's one of those songs for me.  When I hear this song, I am reminded just how much praise my Heavenly Father deserves…and how blessed I am by Him.

My hesitation for this song came more from a fear that I might not be able to challenge each of us for five days within scriptures related to this song.  If I'm being honest, I'm fearful I may not know enough biblically to do this song and our Lord justice.  However, my God is stronger than any doubt Satan might try to put in mind.

As I finalize this intro after finishing the devotion for each day this week, I can admit Satan attacked me in the midst of trying to find the right words to express the hallelujah our God deserves.  However, I too have learned so much from this devotion.  Not only did I dance at times, but this week this song brought me to my knees and it brought tears to my eyes.  But it brought me closer to my Lord and it brought a new ray of hope in my life as well.  I raise my hallelujah, Lord, for your everlasting love, for your relationship with me through Jesus Christ, and for the Holy Spirit who lives within me guiding me all of my days.

So, today, I raise a hallelujah and sing a little louder, louder than the unbelief.  I pray you too may find yourself singing a little louder this week, declaring Jesus' victory.