“Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song” (v.1). We have a tendency to want to sing the same songs in church, and there is nothing wrong with that. The psalmist isn’t telling us to buy a new hymnbook. It means we should have a new experience with the Lord so that we will have a new song of praise to give to Him.

Every new valley that we go through, every new mountaintop we climb, every experience of life ought to be writing on our heart a new song of praise. When we face a difficulty, we have an opportunity to have a renewed faith and see God do new things.

In verse 1 the Psalmist tells us to sing in the congregation. I enjoy congregational singing when people sing to the Lord (v.2). I am glad when God‘s people gather in a congregation of celebration, rejoicing in the goodness and the glory of the Lord.

But he also tells us we should be joyful on our beds (v.5). This could be while we’re resting or recuperating from an illness. Perhaps you’re lying in bed right now, and you don’t feel well. Sing praises to the Lord upon your bed and worship Him.

It is easy to sing in the congregation, not quite so easy to sing on our beds and difficult to sing on the battlefield. But if we sing, we will glorify the Lord, and we will grow. We will be happier and holier and more beautiful if we sing to the Lord (v.4).

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God brings you through different experiences so you may learn new dimensions of His love and grace. What difficulty are you facing today? Don’t simply endure or waste it. Use it as an opportunity to find a new song of praise to God.