Mankind was created to worship. True worship is not confined to what we do in church or open praise (although these things are both good, and we are told in the Bible to do them). True worship is the acknowledgment of God and all His power and glory in everything we do. The highest form of praise and worship is obedience to Him and His Word. To do this, we must know God; we cannot be ignorant of Him (Acts 17:23). Worship is to glorify and exalt God—to show our loyalty and admiration to our Father. There are various ways to worship the Lord described in scripture, but one that has been common through the ages is writing and singing songs of praise. We are actually encouraged in scripture to make this part of living out your Christian faith (Ephesians 5:19). Psalm 95 is one example of what scripture teaches and encourages us in relation to singing joyfully to the Lord with songs of praise.
Come, let’s sing for joy to the Lord,
Psalm 95
Let’s shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.
Let’s come before His presence with a song of thanksgiving,
Let’s shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments.
For the Lord is a great God
And a great King above all gods,
In whose hand are the depths of the earth,
The peaks of the mountains are also His.
The sea is His, for it was He who made it,
And His hands formed the dry land.
Come, let’s worship and bow down,
Let’s kneel before the Lord our Maker.
Throughout history, singing psalms of praise has been a consistent means for believers to express our soul’s outpouring of praise and honor, both personally and collectively, to our Lord who created us and is the only One worthy of worship. The Bible’s largest book, “Psalms”, is translated as “Praises” in the Hebrew text. Later, rabbis often designated it “The Book of Praises.” The Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the OT, named it “Psalms” (cf.“The book of Psalms” in the NT: Luke 20:42; Acts 1:20). The Greek verb from which the noun “psalms” comes from, basically denotes the “plucking or twanging of strings,” so that an association with musical accompaniment is implied. The English title derives from the Greek term and its background. The Psalms constituted Israel’s ancient, God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16) “hymnbook,” which defined the proper spirit and content of godly worship.
While worship music has changed over the years, the heart of true worship centers completely on who God is, what He has done and His promises to us for the future. Sinclair Ferguson, a theologian, Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow, vice-chairman of Ligonier Ministries, and Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic Theology, in his yearlong devotional “Things Unseen“, helps us to understand the anatomy of worship and I think it is helpful here. He says, “Our basic regulative principle for worship is, what does God tell us He likes? What does God tell us He wants? And what does God tell us will be most helpful to us to enable us to come into His presence and to praise Him?” We find each of these three principles in scripture as God describes them to us. Worship is not about us, but about the Lord.
Ferguson continues, “if we seek out the Scriptures, I think we will find two things. First of all, we will see that there are certain constants in worship, what are sometimes called elements. And these are, or should be, in every service, no matter who we are, where we are, or how many or few of us there may be. There will be singing praise. There will be praying. There will be the exposition of Scripture. There will be baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These are constants. These are what we sometimes call elements. And then there will be variables, and there are many variables. For example, the time of day when we gather for worship, when to sit and when to stand, and other variables like this…The Westminster Confession of Faith says, it’s legitimate and appropriate for these things to be, as the Westminster divines noted, “Ordered by the light of nature.” And so, these characteristics may differ from place to place, from culture to culture. But as I said, there are aspects of our worship that should be fixed.” The one we are focusing on today is singing praise.
This brings us to the wonderful new hymn written by Sight and Sound Theater Films for their new movie The Great Awakening, it is called Awaken Us Today. This hymn, while written and put to music in 2026, has the anatomy of the staple classic hymns which have stood the test of time for Christians going back to the Puritans. Hymns that have edified the body of Christ in good times and in times of serious trial and peril. This type of hymn is truly a treasure to have, to learn and to sing no matter where you are in your Christian walk. I believe this is the type of hymn that transports a believer into what Jesus calls “true worship”, where those who worship God, worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). Awaken Us Today has all the components, it places God at the center, glorifies Him as Father, Son and Holy Spirit and, I am sure especially reading the comments online so far, is edifying the body of Christ.
This hymn is a precious gift given to all believers. I hope you find it as edifying and transformative as I have. If you would like to sing along, I have placed the lyrics below. I have also placed a link below so you can watch the creation of the hymn. I hope you enjoy this wonderful masterpiece and go see this amazing movie!
Remember, worship is about the Lord and He directs us how to worship Him. Let me leave you with this early Christian hymn of adoration that is both a sanctifying and glorifying song of praise. It is called the Sanctus (meaning “holy,” “consecrated,” or “set apart”) and its words are heavenly:
“Holy, Holy, Holy. Holy is the Lord.
Holy, Holy, Holy. Holy is the Lord.
Holy is the Father, Holy is the Son, Holy is the Spirit.
Blessed Three in One.”
Awaken Us Today Hymn Lyrics
From the oceans, through the valleys
From the mainland to the shore
Let Your Kingdom be awakened
In the hearts of men once more
Call Your children into freedom
Captive souls to liberty
Come awaken, Holy Spirit!
Come awaken us today!
Love unending, grace unyielding
Tender mercies from thy throne
Brings the lost soul into families
Calls the wayward sinner home
Bring salvation, Great Redeemer
Holy fire fan to flame
Come restore us, come revive us
Come awaken us today!
I will serve Thee, Precious Jesus
Unto Thee I give my all
Lay my hands unto thy service
And my heart unto thy call
Perish every fond ambition
Lay aside all selfish gain
All forsaken for thy glory
Come awaken us today!
Wake, O sleeper, from your slumber!
Saints awaken, come to life!
Christ will rise and shine upon you
In His heav′nly light divine
Like the sunrise in its dawning
Breaking darkness with new light
Rise upon us, King of glory
Come awaken us today!
For Your Kingdom, For Your Glory
Come awaken us today!
Download “Awaken Us Today” for free below:
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