The Very Breath

Recently I started taking voice lessons, and over the past weeks have had four lessons. If I thought I could sing before, I was mistaken, because there is so much more to it than I ever imagined! (I actually found out while I was writing this that my lessons have to end for a while, but it was worth it to get a few.)

The reason that I am telling you this is because, aside from learning to sing, I am learning something of much greater value, and that is what I want to share with you.

First of all, there are some things which appear to be completely essential to singing, because over and over my teacher stresses them. He states that there are 3 basic elements to singing, and never ceases to repeat them to me. So here they are:

(1) Relaxation---There must occur a complete relaxation of not only the throat and the mouth, but of the whole body.

(2) Placement---There must occur such a complete openness in the throat and mouth so as nothing is in the way. This openness could be illustrated as when one is joyfully surprised or struck with awe. The quick intake of breath and widening of the eyes produces the perfect example of this unhindered openness. When the correct open placement is achieved, you have found your "sweet spot", as my teacher would say.

Okay, I'm already leading into the 3rd (and most important) essential:

(3) Breath. For breath to enter in it's full strength and power, the complete relaxation and openness must not only be obtained, but must remain that way. To confuse you all the more, the only way they can be "complete" and "remain" is by the breath. When the breath is thus obtained and allowed to move through the body at its fullest, it is then spilled forth unhindered and strong. In this manner it must be continually drawn; and the only natural response is for it to continually pour out. And what does this produce?

The sweetest, most beautiful sounds imaginable, the pouring forth of pure, clear tones on the ears of all within range....the amazing sound of singing.

As my teacher exhorted me in these things and they were ingrained in my head, [please note that when one knows these things, it does not mean it has been achieved. Notice I said "head". That is where any knowledge will remain unless we stand up and act upon it.] I began to see the parallel, and it is so beautiful.

(1) The relaxation is REST. The Lord states it simply: "Be still, and know that I am GOD" (Psalm 46:10b) and "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him" (Psalm 37:7b). Also, we have been told where we can find that rest! Jesus says: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Mt. 11:28)

We are to rest in the fact that Jesus is God, and that He is all which He proclaims Himself to be.

"Hear O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!" (Deut. 6:4)

Jesus says: "I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love." (John 15:9)

(2) The placement of openness is the state of our hearts. If we are surprised by His love, joyful in His mercies, and struck with awe at His greatness, then we open wide our hearts to Him and ask Him to come in and take the throne, to consume us with Himself, and thus allow to enter:

(3) The Breath. And what is the breath but the very Spirit of God? "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life." (Job 33:4)

Do you see!? If we rest in the knowledge that He is truly all-powerful, Almighty God, and place our hearts in such a way as to allow His Spirit access to move freely as He wills, (I would also note that the only way we can be "complete" is by Him) then the only natural response is for His Spirit to pour out of us! When nothing is preventing Him, God's Spirit can both fill and pour out of us unhindered and awesome.

And what is the result? The very breath of God is poured out in the sweetest of songs through the surrendered life of the vessel. Our life is emptied so that the Spirit of God can fill us and spill out on all nearby.

"...but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God." (Eph. 5:18-21)

Can God sing through your life? I think that He can; all it takes is surrender. Then let us ask Him! Truly, one of my favorite verses is 1 Thess. 5:23-24: "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it."

I love that! He is the one who does the work, He is the one who is faithful, even when we are not.

The surrender is really part of the rest. There must be a silence before a song can begin, or it would not be a beginning. There must be surrender before God can use our life, or it will not be His song.

"For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father'." (Rom. 8:13-15)

As one final note, let me again bring to attention that the only way the very breath of God can enter and rule a human life is by the blood of Jesus Christ. He is the Lamb who was slain, He is the blood over the door of our hearts, He tore the veil of our hearts so that we could be one with Him, casting out the spirit of bondage and death to bring us the Spirit of freedom and Life.

"But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Cor. 3:15-18)

Let's sing!