Personal Worship, Personal God
In my earlier years of leading the worship during Sunday Services I had the same struggle every week about how to encourage the congregation to lift up their hands, raise their voices and bow or even kneel down. I thought then that those were the signs to look for so I would know that I was able to lead them and that they were indeed able to enter God’s presence and truly worship.
Instead of focusing entirely on my own personal worship, I would spare some time to observe how much of the congregation was actually doing what I was expecting. When I looked at them and saw that only a few did it, I would end up feeling disappointed. During what could have been a precious time to give my all to the Lord, I was only thinking about what I should do to bring the congregation’s worship higher and louder.
The Lord dealt with me and by His grace I learned that He wanted me to judge correctly (John 7:24) by setting aside what I thought I should do, and instead focus on what He could and would do when I and others begin to really worship. Like the rest of the congregation, the one leading the songs is no different. We must desire to worship and worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). In one accord, we acknowledge and recognize the One True God whom we worship and only serve (Luke 4:8). How we do it reflects each one’s worship lifestyle and it’s going to be unique.
While the physical expressions I was looking for are not at all wrong to do and anticipate during a worship service (Psalms 63:4; 95:6; 100:2), not all people are the same in expressing their adoration. Some quietly pour their hearts out to the Lord with heads bowed down and hands clasped, while others who cannot contain their joy lift up their arms in praise and loudly cheer God. Still others have their own ways of expressing honor to Him. God is personal and each one’s worship is personal, too. God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). What is going on between an individual’s personal relationship with the Lord and the Lord is between them.
In a corporate worship setting no person can dictate nor predict how we are going to be able to express our reaction to the indescribable moving of His Spirit. It is the Lord’s calling that will bring out the expression of our worship to Him. We know that He is working for us and in the moment that we revere who He is and adore Him, we believe that we will leave that place (John 4:21), as different people. This is because no one who genuinely encounters God is ever the same afterward.
Reflecting on our own appreciation for God, we enter His presence as we are (Hebrews 4:16) with our eyes set on the Lord for who He is, because worship is all about Him. In humility we worship our Maker (Psalm 95:6) with less of us and more of Him. As we open our hearts and begin to give Him glory, thanksgiving will overflow as we remember the unconditional love God gave us through His Son, our Savior Jesus (Ephesians 1:5-6; John 3:16).
Now I encourage you to make your life a life of worship (Romans 12:1) – your constant connection with God. In prayer we often ask, but in worship we give. We give God the honor due Him (1 Chronicles 16:29). A life lived in consistent reverence, gratitude and celebration for who He is, for what He has done, for what He is doing and for what He will still do, and with steady obedience to His instructions and directions – is a life of worship (Romans 12:1).
“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.
Amen!” 1Timothy 1:17
