Something caught my eye as I was worshiping during the Sunday service a few weeks ago. The congregation was deep in song when suddenly there was much movement near our pew. Glancing over I was blessed to see a small child bouncing up and down to the music as though she was praising God with every ounce of joy she could find within. The scene brought a smile to my face and the words of Jesus saying, “let the little children come to me” to my mind. Precious little girl, I pray you never lose that excitement to worship your Heavenly Father.
Worship comes in many forms and our junior high students have been learning about just that the last few weeks. Their lessons have challenged them to live a life of worship in all they do. Afterall, worship is far more than singing along to a tune being strummed on the guitar or played from the organ. The students and adults have been encouraged to encounter God in a variety of ways throughout their week. My heart was full as I listened in on the lessons and took in the shared ideas and personal experiences of worship the students and adult leaders had for one another.
As Louie Giglio says, “Worship is simply giving God His breath back.” What better words to share with God, than the very words he inspired to be written for us all to read. My heart tends to immediately turn to the Psalms when I think of worship in the Bible. When I am at a loss for words as I worship, it seems as though a few verses from a Psalm can quickly fill that void and draw me even closer to my Creator. “You God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” (63:1) “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (101:1) “Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (106:1) “Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. (134:1-2)
Don’t those verses spark joy deep within and make you want to bounce up and down worshiping the Lord for all He is? A quote I read recently said, “An encounter with God marks you, and makes you hungry for more of Him.” (Jenn Johnson) While worship has nothing to do with us and everything to do with God, the experience still somehow fills us and leaves us thirsting for more all at the same time.
So, what about you? How do you encounter God on a daily basis? When life throws a curve ball how do you respond to the situation? When something amazing happens, do you praise God or just enjoy what is happening before you? May it be so of each of us as we go about our daily business that each moment is an act of worship for our Heavenly Father.
And don’t forget to dance with great joy!
Becky Ossefoort