Intentional Worship

Several years ago, I attended a worship conference that greatly impacted my life. As I watched all of the "cool" people on stage, I was impressed by their attitudes of humility and transparency as they poured their hearts out to us. At the time that I attended the conference, I was aspiring to be a "worship leader." However, I was confronted with some very profound thoughts while I was there: 1. An effective worship leader is first an effective worshiper 2. You can't lead someone to where you have never been 3. Once you know the way, you are ready to lead 4. A worship leader is responsible for those he leads. I thought to myself, "There's a lot more to this worship leading stuff than I thought. Do I really want to be a worship leader?"

God began a work in my heart at that time to draw me closer to Him. I knew that I could never be an effective worship leader without first being a worshiper of Him. Many years have passed since that time, and God is still teaching me about worship. Sometimes, it comes from absolute joy and awe as I have witnessed God's mighty power in my life. Other times, worship comes as a sacrifice when I have nothing to give but pain and tears. Nonetheless, worship has become an important part of my life. I once learned of nine characteristics of an effective worship leader: Joy, Authenticity, Excellence, Maturity, Humility, Freshness, Sensitivity, Transparency and Biblical Soundness. Since we become what we worship, these qualities will be evident in us, if we seek to worship God intentionally.

I have also learned through the years, that a worship leader leads worship off stage as well as on stage. It is humbling (and frightening) to know that people are watching every moment of the day! Worship is our response to God for who He is; and what He has done, expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live. He reveals Himself and we respond to Him. By worshiping God intentionally, we are declaring that He is of great value in our lives and we are willing to invest our time, energy and devotion to Him.

The beautiful aspect of worship leading, is that we can all have a part in leading worship--every cellist, choir member, guitarist, organist, pianist, praise team member, etc. I love that God has a place for all of us. I love that this church allows so many to use their gifts and talents. Thank you God, for the privilege of enabling us to lead others to Your throne each week. Help us to worship you with our whole hearts. Reveal Yourself to us so that we may respond to you in joy, authenticity, excellence, maturity, humility, freshness, sensitivity, transparency and Biblical soundness...

Psalm 84:1,2,10

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere..."

Peace

I'm seeing the word "peace" posted everywhere lately...on t-shirts, bumper stickers, billboards, etc. Why are people so infatuated with peace? It has almost become a foreign word, a lost art or a faint memory.

One of the names given to Jesus was the Prince of Peace. It is interesting to me that these two words are combined together. A prince, as we all know, is someone with power and authority--an heir to the throne. "Peace" is a sense of rest or contentment; wholeness. In other words, Jesus is the ruler over our sense of rest, contentment and wholeness. Christ's power and peace go hand in hand. This is evident when Jesus calmed the storm in Luke 8. He rebuked the winds and the waves and they dared to obey Him. He brought peace and calmness through His power.

In Jesus' last days on earth, he left us a "will". He said, "My peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you." (v.27) Then, in Matthew 28:18, he goes on to say, "All authority has been given to me in Heaven and on earth." The most amazing thing of all is what He says in John 16:15. "All things that the Father has are mine (including peace and power)--yet they will be disclosed to you and imparted to you by the Holy Spirit." I can hardly take this in! So then, the power and authority of Christ, as well as His peace are all available to me! This sounds like a simple Sunday school answer, but as I have meditated on this principle, I have been overwhelmed with God's goodness to impart such an incredible gift to me, and I have been convicted by the fact that I have not received it more often...

Prince of Peace, come and reign
Restore Your power to Your people once again
Take Your throne, rightful Lord,
Prince of Peace, come and reign forevermore!

Rest

Hebrews 4:1 "Therefore since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it."

Rest--just the mention of this word causes me to sigh. Rest is one of the greatest needs of our society. Everywhere I look, people are overwhelmed, overloaded, overworked and weary. Stress levels are at an all-time high and more people are on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications than ever before. What has happened to us? It is though we are on a merry-go-round, and we can't jump off because it is going too fast. We are spinning out of control!

Hebrews 4:1 tells us that the promise of rest is attainable. However, God did not intend for us to rest on our own. He said to "take his yoke upon us"--in other words, BE JOINED with him in the act of resting--to LEARN from him about how rest is to be achieved.

I have been learning that "to rest" means "a space of peace reserved for you"; "to quit, cease, put down worry". The phrase "enter that rest" is mentioned over and over again in Hebrews 4. What is "that" rest? It is HIS rest (v.5) If it is HIS rest, then there is no way we can do it on our own. However, Hebrews 4:11 tells us to make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the bad example of the Jews in their lack of faith. So then, our part in resting is to join with God and believe him--to follow HIS example. Our part in resting is to cease striving, to quit worrying and to trust in his promises. He will provide the rest that we need. It then becomes a supernatural event. I heard a phrase this week: "Nothing makes God worry." I love to think that as I join with him and his attitude about things, I will not worry either. The slogan "Don't worry, be happy" takes on new meaning for me after reading Hebrews 4. (My son has the big mouth bass mounted on his wall that sings that silly song as you walk by!)

After God created the heavens and the earth, he rested from his work. However, the Bible never indicates that the rest ended. It was perpetual--this is God's example to us--perpetual rest in him!

Oh God, help us to LEARN from you as we join with you in YOUR rest that is promised to us!

Jesus, I am resting, resting in the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.

Thou has bid me gaze upon Thee and Thy beauty fills my soul,

For by Thy transforming power, Thou hast made me whole.