Weapons of Worship!
Worship is something that I LOVE! It is a great passion for me, it has brought we through some of my darkest times. The only problem is I. can’t. Sing. Now God loves my worship and He delights in it, but people not so much. I have often asked God, “ Why didn't you give me the gift of singing, I would bring so much passion to it?” Well, He didn't, he has given me other gifts to use for His glory. That hasn’t stopped me from experiencing the power of worship as a weapon. This became more real to me as I watched my husband in the fiercest battle of his life. Worship became that place of refuge, of peace, a place where the Holy Spirit would pull me out of deep places of despair and fear, as I worshipped. It was playing in our home consistently, in the car, and as I went for walks. It was my lifeline.
After his passing, which was one of the most difficult few hours that I have ever walked through, worship was there. It was my go to, in such an overwhelming place when I didn’t have words. Since Ronn’s passing worship has continued to be my weapon as I have navigated this deep season of grief.
Praise brings down the walls!
We we are faced with life challenges, praise might seem like the craziest thing to do, but its open the door for God to move. I am reminding of God’s people facing a huge obstacle and the Lord directed Joshua to have his people praise. In Joshua 6:5, the Lord said,“And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall done flat.”Jericho was the last city that stood between the Israelites and the Promise Land. Its towering city walls were so wide that chariots rod on top of them. It looked impossible! God’s solution “seemed” crazy. You and your people march around the wall for 6 days, then on the 7th time around, they were to give a great shout of praise. What? Um God that sounds ridiculous we need a strategic plan, new weapons, a battle plan, not praise! We will look ridiculous. But as they were obedient, God moved, and the walls came down.
There is always a Jericho that stands between you and your Promise Land, one last obstacle that just looks too big. Will you choose to trust God enough to praise Him in spite of disappointment, the medical report, the loss of that job, the difficulty in your marriage, infertility, etc. Make the choice to not murmur and complain but to turn up your praise.
Praise in community is contagious!
This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing. In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning(Hebrews 10:25) This verse came alive for me at church recently. There was a women two rows ahead of me who was holding nothing back, she wasn’t distracting but her worship was contagious. She was pouring out her praise and it “caught on.” Others felt permission to praise God and to hold nothing back, you could feel apathy breaking. There was a shift as we worshipped together. It’s about the posture of the heart, deep gratitude for what God has done, and radical faith of what He will do.
The times we are living in are just hard. So now more than ever we need to be in community. To not pull away and neglect meeting together. So this coming weekend make the decision to come to the house of the Lord to be encouraged, to urge each other on. If you don’t have a church home, message me and I would be happy to meet you at mine.
Praise because God’s creation is worthy!
The beauty and majesty of God’s creation is awe-inspiring. Being outside has been one of the things that has brought such healing to my soul. So the next time you are feeling down and unable to praise. Just walk out your front door. Be intentional of observing the beauty around you. There is nothing like it. In fact if you are up for a challenge, take the next 7 days and walk outside for 10 minutes. See how you feel at the end. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1. How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number- living things both large and small. Pslam 104:24-25.