The Wonder of Worship

Yesterday was the day we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ (Easter Sunday). I was visiting my mom's church and they had joined in the celebration with the vineyard church that they share facilities with. Walking in in my jeans with a nice sweater and a necklace to add a little spice (I thought I had dressed quit casual) I felt over dressed. I began to look around and think about the differences between my church and this one and how each body of believers is so unique and yet we all worship Christ. I began to reflect on worship as I saw some dancers start to wave flags in the room, while others were standing barely even singing. I remembered how David commanded his soul to bless the Lord and how he danced before God and I wondered - is that what really entering in to the presence of God is all about? I know that worship is more than just singing - but as collectively gathered believers today- it does revolve a lot around singing (should it only? what about prayer and other forms of worship?)

Then the song "Jesus, I surrender" began and I thought - Lord what does surrender really look like? Do we have to take on a particular position (hands raised, kneeling, dancing...)? I, who want to be free in my worship to God was starting to feel like I should dance myself because others around me were doing it - but is that truly the heart of worship - to do something just because others are doing it? I found myself thinking - we really do do what is comfortable to us - does God require more (for us to step out of our comfort zones)? Does what is familiar become boring and we are just mouthing words to God instead of ADORING Him.

Then I started to wonder about the people who can't sing a tune or clap a rhythm if their life depended on it - does that make them less of a worshiper because they are not comfortable with music? (I don't think so). Yet as leaders are we encouraging a certain way of worship is more "right/holly" than others?

My analytical thoughts were dancing all over the place. How much of worship is modeled/led and how much is us as worshipers just letting go? Are we observers or participators? And how much of our FEELINGS get in the way - does God require that we worship Him only in the ways we feel comfortable in, or are part of our personality/make up? Or does He want us to step out into the unknown sometimes (this is were we need to be Spirit led in our worship I believe) - you know - ask Him how He wants to be loved on.

As leaders how do we facilitate allowing people to get out of their comfort zones? I wondered how many times we allow distractions to stop us from meeting Spirit with spirit. As worship leaders - we can minimize some distractions by creating a certain atmosphere -but we must be led by the Spirit.

I started to ask the question what holds us back? [Shame, uncertainties, ourselves...] Then I heard the pastor say something as we were worshiping, he said, "you only go as high as you see yourself."

I began to ask myself - who am I as a worshiper? What am I willing to do for my God? It led me to asking the question - Who are we/Who am I? With this question lies my destiny, my image, my value my person hood. I remembered reading the books by Neil Anderson on our identity in Christ and I wrote down, "I am in Christ. Christ in me, the hope of glory." What we ALLOW ourselves to do for God is wrapped up in our identity and how we see ourselves. Do we know Him? Do we know ourselves? Are we comfortable in our own skin to love on Him in whatever fashion?

All this I was thinking about in worship time and I began to write it down - I sat and wrote a long time (worship was about 1 1/2 hours so I had time). It was intoxicating to watch some enter into focused attention on Jesus (sweet surrender).

And then I stopped writing and I sat and soaked it all in. The music stopped and the pastor came up and began to preach and as he spoke I smiled because he began to speak about our IDENTITY in GOD - and I looked at my mom and leaned over and said "God already gave me the pastors sermon during worship" - as I pointed on the piece of paper I had just filled. Many of the words coming out of the pastors mouth were the same that I had wrote down.

Isn't worship wonderful ? And to think I had spent most of my time sitting, watching and writing.
The Wonder of worship - I think it's more than we allow ourselves to experience.