worship

One time a friend said, "There is only one thing we have that we can give to God.  Do you know what it is?"  I said, "Ourselves."  Which I believe is true.  I'm a big proponent of surrender.  But she said, "Our worship."

The past several churches we've attended - going back years- are places where people feel comfortable raising their hands as they worship the Lord.  In one church people knelt, or stood or sat according to what they were led to do rather than worrying about what other people would think.   I love that kind of openness to the Spirit.

The church we go to now has a couple of people who dance a little bit.  A few months ago I was able to visit the Anglican church we used to attend and at the end of the service the South African Pastor was dancing sort of hoe-down style to "I'll Fly Away."  It was joyous!  He wasn't making a spectacle; he was down in an area not everyone could see.  But he was overflowing because he had just returned from Cuba where he had seen God work in mighty ways.  Should we not express that joy?  That worship?  A couple of nearby children joined him and it was wonderful.

I sometimes put on praise music and dance in my worship.  I don't do it in public - it would be a spectacle

My friend Michelle at Just a Minute prays with colored pencils in hand and draws her prayers.  She has examples on her blog.

I sing.  That's not very creative or pleasant, but it is a way I worship.

Sometimes I simply sit.  I try to be as still in body and mind as possible and just listen.  "Lord speak to me."  And I listen.  Especially if there is something specific I am needing direction on.

I read books.  Good books by godly men and women that deepen my faith.  Even fiction frequently leads me to a place of worship.

Sometimes I lie flat out on my face and  just let Him be God.  

I can sit here and look out my window and worship.  Being on a mountain or at a lake or in some other beautiful natural setting always inspires me to praise.

I pray.  I often pray during the singing time at church rather than sing.  So often the words to the songs spur prayers of wonder or confession.  I pray in the car, in the shower, in bed, while watching TV, while reading, while eating, while visiting with friends.  I pray when I shop, when I have questions and problems, when I am overwhelmed.  I pray when I sin, when I am in a tight spot.  I pray.  My prayers are incense that rises up before God on his throne and he delights in them.  (look in Revelation)

What are some ways that you worship?  Or maybe what are some situations or surroundings that are conducive to worship?

the heart of God

I have prayed for God to let me know His heart and there have been two times where He showed me just a glimpse of it and it was very intense each time.

One time I when I was at a ministry meeting we were all taking turns praying.  When it reached my turn, I couldn't even speak.  I was overwhelmed by all of the pain in the world.  I felt as if God had revealed to me all of the sorrow and suffering and I couldn't bear it.  I just started sobbing and eventually found enough breath to sputter out a clumsy, but heartfelt prayer.  I've never at any other time experienced anything like that.

Another time while in church, I just stopped singing and listened instead to everyone else.  It was a church where people were very open in their worship.  One lady used sign language, with big gestures, to accompany her singing.  People swayed, raised their hands, knelt at their seats, cried, etc.  Some sang very off key, but so full of praise that it didn't matter.  Suddenly I felt God's heart of joy and love for all of these broken, wounded, healed, redeemed people pouring their worship out to Him.  I can't even remember it without tears, it was such a powerful experience.  

How God loves our worship.  How He adores us.  We are His precious children and no matter how imperfectly we do what we do, He treasures it. 

And He knows our pain.  If we knew even one millionth of a percent of the suffering in this world, we would die under it.  But God knows it.  He sees it.  And Jesus died under it for us.