Lately, I find myself thinking more and more about worship.
That’s not to say you can’t do that earlier in the week and get a little extra rest on Sunday morning. I’m only describing what works best for me. Kneeling before God first thing in the morning is what makes me fit to stand before His people and lead them into battle.
It also sets my focus on Him and guards against anything on that stage feeding my own ego. That’s the part I really want to talk about. Someone once debated me on whether or not this energetic “hyped up” (their words, not mine) form of worship truly honored God. Their assertion was that it was too performance-based.
I beg to differ. What you see up there isn’t hype. It’s hope being renewed as eyes are fixed on Him. As hearts are surrendered to Him. As lives are offered as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.
What you see up there isn’t hype. It’s hope being renewed as eyes are fixed on Him.
Can it go awry? Sure. Have there been worship leaders who performed for crowds more than they lead the crowds? Of course. No one is perfect. And as long as we’re on this side of eternity, we will get it wrong.
But one bad apple can’t spoil the bunch. Let’s consider what happens during worship:
We declare the attributes of God. He is good. Kind. Patient. A miracle worker. Faithful. Trustworthy. Unchanging. Everlasting. Loving. Perfect.
We declare the authority of God. He is the King of kings. Lord of lords. All powerful. Seated high above – seated…not pacing about nervously. God is certain because He stands alone in authority. No rival. No equal. None stands besides Him.
We declare the names of God. He is our Savior. Healer. Father. Friend. The God who sees. The God who acts on our behalf.
This is not a god who can be worshiped subtly. This is the God who demands a response.
This is not a god who can be worshiped subtly. This is the God who demands a response. The only worthy of our worship. And this is the kind of worship that needs to be expressed.
So yes, sometimes it might look like hype on the stage. But what’s really happening is that hearts are finding relief. For the time we spend in worship, our whole lives are recalibrated. Throughout the weeks, so many things are vying for our attention. Little by little, our focus shifts from His power to our weaknesses.
The waiting season that hasn’t ended.
Bills that haven’t been paid.
The to-do list that hasn’t been to-done.
Kids who can’t seem to succeed in school.
The loved one who hasn’t been healed.
The prodigal that has not come home.
And the impossibility of it all.
There’s power in the release.
Then Sunday comes, and it’s time to worship. In those minutes shared with the whole congregation, we cease to focus our attention on our individual struggles. Instead, we align our corporate vision on the One who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we could ask or imagine.
Together, we let go of the unmet expectations to lay hold of the hope found in Jesus. Not hype…hope. There’s power in the release. And what’s good for the gander is good for every little goose in that room.
Suddenly, with eyes fixed on Him, all those things that stole our focus throughout the week begin to shift with the addition of one little word:
For the time we spend in worship, our whole lives are recalibrated.
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