hands raised

Worship Lived Out

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / Leave a comment

“If worship does not propel us into greater obedience, it has not been worship.” (Richard Foster)

I got convicted today that maybe I am worshiping worship music. Maybe I’m too caught up in the style of worship music and how current the songs are. Maybe I’ve reduced the art of worship to a once a week exercise in singing trendy songs.

I truly believe that if I’m really worshiping, it won’t matter if it’s a top-notch worship band cranking out the latest Hillsong or Chris Tomlin songs or a piano and organ playing a 500-year old hymn. In fact, it won’t even matter if there’s no music at all.

Worship is so much bigger than singing songs with hands raised or hands in my pockets. It’s so much bigger than the style of music. Worship is so much bigger than music. Worship is making God look great in EVERYTHING I do, whether I’m in a church building or at work or at home by myself.

Regardless of where it takes place, worship that leaves me the same after as I was before isn’t really worship. If I’m not spurred to greater acts of love and obedience, that I haven’t really worshiped. I’ve just sang songs or read words out of a Bible or done religious things.

If people are looking at me and how much my love for Jesus shows, I’ve missed the point. People shouldn’t be looking at me at all, but drawn to and transformed by God. That’s what real and true worship does.

Above all, worship is not an event or an activity. It’s a 24/7 lifestyle that never really ends.

 

 

Some Reminders For You and Me

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / Leave a comment

Sometimes, I need to be reminded because I am forgetful and easily distracted. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who needs the reminder. So here is a list of reminders for us to consider.

1) God is for us, not against us. He’s not out to kill our dreams or take away what brings us happiness and pleasure, but to be our Ultimate Joy and show us true fulfullment by helping us become all He made us to be.

2) You don’t have to be an expert theologian or communicator to share your faith. You don’t even have to be good. You just have to have a story to tell and a voice to tell it.

3) God is much more interested in your inside world than your outward appearance. It’s no good to wrap yourself in good works and activities if you have a bad heart. God doesn’t want all your best efforts; He wants all of you. He doesn’t want to make you better; He wants to make you come alive.

4) You need to be less hard on yourself. So do I. If God can forgive us, why can’t we forgive ourselves? I read that we should be able to believe what God says about us, no matter how beautiful it may seem.

5) Freedom starts with honesty. I can never be free if I’m not honest about where I’ve fallen short. Sure there’s grace, but grace doesn’t cover denials, only confessions.

6) Sometimes, we can worship strong with our hands held high. Sometimes, we need others to hold our arms up. Sometimes, we need others to pray the words we can’t find and believe for what we can’t see.

7) OK, there’s not really a 7th point, but I really didn’t want to end on 6. It just didn’t feel right.

Most of all, may we be reminded every morning and every night that our Abba Father loves us and is very fond of us and delights in us and sings over us every night.