Four Blessings of Pursuing A Musical Skill

Mountain Ocarina ~ Courtesy of Faithwalk Photography

One of the greatest investments we can make is developing our musical skills. As I thought about the gift of music in my own life and the lives of others I've watched throughout the years, four reasons came to mind why a love of music is so important.

Knowledge

The more I learn about the structure and mechanics of music, the more my enjoyment of music – both in listening and creating – grows. Music is built on very precise mathematical structure and it is that very structure which gives music such a colorful range of beauty and creative freedom. Most of all, the structure and splendor of music declare the glories of God and His power to compose both steadfast order and captivating beauty.

Discipline

Every musician you admire honed their skill through discipline. They may be intelligent. They may have a special talent with which they were born. But I guarantee the ship that sailed them to where they are today was discipline. They had the dedication to learn their craft for hours upon hours, weeks upon weeks and years upon years. Old-fashion consistency is like a muscle that must be exercised and taking the next step in our musical skill is a fantastic way to work that muscle.

Joy

Music is the voice of joy. It gives rest to ruffled minds, peace to stressed circumstances and cheer to discouraged souls. And the sweetness of it is, we don't have to be concert musicians to enjoy this blessing. I am far from being an accomplished pianist or Mountain Ocarina player, but I'm often drawn to my instruments to relax after a hectic day. And this is true for others as much as for ourselves. Few things lift my spirit like walking through the house and hearing the rhythms of my brother's soothing guitar or cheery notes from my sister's fiddle. Like His creatures, I believe the Lord delights in hearing His children rejoice and music is a very natural outlet for making that joyful sound.

Fellowship

The sweetest advantage to growing our musical ability is the fellowship it creates with our fellow man. Music is like a newborn baby: everyone is drawn to it and delights in its presence. Music helps bridge the gap between strangers and friends, making it an excellent tool for ministry. It is also a skill we can teach others. This in turn opens the door to witnessing and discipleship opportunities making an eternal investment in their lives. A joyful young lady who develops her musical talent will discover many open doors to minister and build relationships that would otherwise be closed to her.

Taking our musical skill to the next level requires work and dedication, but the rewards are well worth it. It brings depth to our character, edifies our families and blesses those we are able to touch through ministry and friendship.