Lately, I wake up in the morning fearful. Scared of facing the day. Not knowing what the day will bring. Not knowing if I can handle the unknown, and it’s not until I get into the frame of Worship, that I can shake it off. Fearful of the gun violence. Fearful of the world’s hatred. Fearful of what our children and grandchildren must endure. Fearful that the next breath might be the last. And it’s not until I get into the mindset of Worship that I can shake it off. Debating whether my faith can trample over the fear. Wondering if my fear is evidence of my faithlessness. Am I a Christian for real? Can I suffer like Christ? Can I take up my cross daily and follow Him? Wondering if when the world sees me, do they see Him? Am I truly made in His image? And it’s not until I get into the posture of worship, that I can shake it all off.
“Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold fast to me.” Psalm 139:7-10.
Pastor Washington has taught us that, “A Bible Reading, Bible Believing, Bible Practicing People Cannot Be Denied.” I think I believe it. As much as I want to run away, or to hide from my fear of fear, it is not until I realize how much Jesus loves me, that I can truly exhale. Knowing that He is Omniscient. Omnipotent. Omnipresent. It is then that I have no choice but to bow down… not to those things that scare me and make me want to throw up my hands and quit, but rather to fall on my face because the WHOLENESS of Him is all-encompassing; and His HOLINESS requires that I submit ………only to Him; and not focusing on the things that bully me.
In those moments, I truly have no choice: I must Worship! Worship is not ‘going to church.’ It is not ‘Spiritual Talk’. It is not donating to Charity. It is not doing the right thing. We error in our thinking when we do those things, thinking that we are honoring Him, when in fact, all those things can and do interfere with our ability to Worship. We perpetrate Holiness, and totally miss the encounter that we most need with Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God! It is right for us to assemble ourselves together, and we should do it often. It is right to call those things that be not, as though they were, and we should do it often. It is right to do the right thing, and we ought to, always. But that is not Worship. There are all kinds of worship, including self; but in Christianity, true Worship is the act of betrothing reverent honor and homage to God. It is the act of losing oneself in adoration of Him. He is the lover of our soul, and Worship is reserved for Him because He deserves it. It is for His pleasure. True Worship begins with our Being. Breathing. Moving. Speaking. Hearing. Seeing. Touching. Your speaking. Your hearing. Your seeing. Your touching. Your feeling, and we cannot help but cry out, “O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.” (Isaiah 25: 1 ESV).
In Worship, we can bow down, willingly, or be brought down. His majesty demands it, and it is a lowliness that can in no way, stand in the presence of The Holy One. Here, and now, just like in the day the priests who served in the Temple, His Glory fills. His Glory spills, into a room in a way that leaves room for nothing else, not even our false humility; “The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the temple of God.” (1 Kings 8:11 NLT). Praise is a part of Worship, but Worship goes beyond praise. Praise is reflective of Thanksgiving and focuses on what God has done; “Because your love is better than life, I will praise you. I will praise you as long as I live. I will lift up my hand in prayer to your name. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wing. I cling to you. Your strong right-hand holds me securely.” (Psalm 63:3-4 NIV). Worship in real-time focuses on the WHO of God, based on His worthiness; His worth-fulness. It speaks to intrinsic value and comes with a sacrifice that only one could pay. Death. Dying. Resurrection. Risen Savior. Regardless of my fears, there is no bidding. Just obedience. There is no discussion. Just obedience. There is no bargaining. Just obedience. Our God Reigns and my obedience is my response to Worship. I must obey!
Submitted By Deaconess Irene Gardon