"I Sing Praises" has blessed so many people.

Here is the story behind the song.

A SONG IS BORN

I was serving as a worship pastor in a fast-growing, charismatic church in northern Colorado in the summer of 1986. It was our tradition for the ministry leaders to meet for prayer thirty minutes before each service. One Sunday evening, I was in the prayer room quietly worshiping the Lord when it was as if God just dropped one of Heaven's songs in my pocket. I began to sing, "I sing praises to Your name, O Lord, praises to Your name, O Lord...” Realizing this was a new melody the Lord was giving me, I took a loose piece of paper from my Bible.

I quickly jotted down the words and a rough melody line and then stuck the paper back in my Bible. Later that evening, I was leading the music portion of the service and came to a transitional part of the song list where we would typically go from the joyful triumphant praise songs to the slower, more worshipful choruses. The Holy Spirit tapped me on my shoulder at that point and whispered, "Teach the new song." I remember taking the paper out of my Bible right then and setting it on the piano. I heard another voice at the same time saying, "That song?? There's nothing to that song...no substance...too simple...don't waste the people's time...forget it." As I sat there staring aimlessly at the keys for what seemed like an eternity, the battle in my mind continued - sing the new song or go on with the scheduled music. Oh, how heaven and hell were competing for my soul's attention right then!

Finally, I went with the stronger urge and taught the song. WHOOSH!!! The anointing was instantly all over me as I played and sang "I Sing Praises" for the first time. The congregation picked it up quickly, and we sang it over and over for several minutes. God used His song and my less than immediate obedience to bless His children with the music of heaven.

THE REST OF THE STORY

My young bass player came up to me after the service and said, "Pastor Terry, when you taught ”I Sing Praises“ tonight, the Spirit showed me it being sung in nations all over the world." I said, "Brother, thank you...but you're crazy!" (Man of great faith here). It was about two years later when Integrity Music recorded the song on one of their worship albums. God really took over from there.

Today, it is consistently a top 40 song in all of Christian music. We receive reports of it being sung in places such as England, Canada, Mexico, China, Russia, Argentina, and the Philippines. The list goes on and on. Its popularity is still on the rise so many years after its original recording. Testimonies have also been sent to us. They tell of how the song has been a special blessing to people and how God has even done miracles through the music as people have listened and sung along.

All of this has been a result of the right choice being made as I sat helplessly at the piano that Sunday evening. Who knows the plans of the Lord?! All glory to the Chief Musician for sharing Heaven's music with the earth.