What sounds bad but smells good? Well, I’m not talking about chocolate covered bacon, though I have been lately pondering a taste-test of that greasy-chocolatey confection.

No, I’m talking about the way I sing. Or more to the point, the sound of my Sunday morning church worship. It ain’t very pretty. At least probably not to human ears.

But is it sincere and enthusiastic? Yes! Once, I accidentally almost knocked out my husband at church. The service had just begun, and I was saving him a seat and didn’t realize he’d sneaked in when I lifted my hands in praise, and WHACK! I guess I get a little bapticostal at times.

Here’s hope for you if you’re a mediocre singer (or worse, maybe like I am?) yet ardent worshipper: man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.

Seriously. I’m not even making it up, look:

“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

See?!

So, I’m going to take heart. When I get to gather with other Christ-followers and recount some of the amazing things He has done, my heart naturally turns to worship Him.

“For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15).

What might sound bad to us smells good to Him. So the next time you think oh man, my singing stinks, remind yourself: if it is sincere worship, it actually smells really good. When we express our love for God through song (or however), it is a fragrant sacrifice.

“And live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2).

So if you will be gathering with other Christ-followers this weekend (and, oh friend, I hope you will!), won’t you please allow yourself freedom to respond to the Living God? It sure do sound good! {Or at the very least, it will smell good.}