On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.
Know this: God is God, and God, God. He made us; we didn’t make him. We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.
Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him.
For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.
Psalm 100, MSG
“Sing yourselves into His presence” – I don’t know about you, but that line? It makes me smile. I love a good message preached with passion and joy, don’t get me wrong. But the music? That’s what brings my heart closer to God. It’s why I support my husband in his dream – being in a worship band with great guys who love God. It’s why I try to use this gift of writing to pen songs for them to share at their events. It’s why I get out of bed in the mornings to dig into the Word, knowing I’ll have the new Burning Lights album waiting for me 🙂
If you were one of the thousands who watched the live stream of Passion 2013 earlier this month (or one of the 60,000 who attended!), you know I’m not lying when I say that there is something purely magnificent about corporate worship when done on a HUGE scale. I sat on my laptop, TV on mute, in slippers & PJs and felt the Holy Spirit move mightily as so many praised His name together. If you would have walked through my living room, you would have likely seen me sitting there, eyes closed, hands raised, whispering the words (it was bedtime for the kiddo). It’s a feeling like no other- especially when you can be there in person.
But I was thinking back as well to another one of my favorite worship moments. Just as beautiful. Just as passionate and filled with the Holy Spirit. It was small. Maybe 20 of us. There were no crazy lights, no well-known worship leaders, just women after God’s heart, lifting voices together to bring Him glory. It nearly brings me to my knees when I think of it. And that time? You would have found me standing, hands lifted knowing I might be the only one, voice giving out to tears as my heart found joy. Sometimes those small moments? When all the “show” goes away and it’s just pure? That’s when I can slow down long enough to open my heart to the grace and mercy, healing and refining.
Today, let’s laugh. Let’s worship and sing and give thanks to God until we are filled with His presence. It doesn’t matter if you can carry a tune – I can’t! – but take a moment to ignore your doubts and just let your heart feel joy. Whether you’re sitting in your car, in your closet (yep. me. right now.), thinking you’re not good enough or wondering how in the world you’re going to make it out of bed today…..give Him praise. Sing a song back to the One who created you, filled you with dreams, and goes always before, behind and beside you.
Let it be small. Sing yourself into His presence.
What is your favorite worship song right now? I’d love to know!
Do you know Josh Garrels? My husband and I are loving the song Revelator right now. You got spotify? I also love Leeland’s Pure Bride and Kari Jobe’s Here (on repeat at the moment). 🙂
p.s. I’m figuring out how this comment thing works! Got my own disqus profile and everything. Grace & Peace to you