Each week we gather together to sing, to serve, to worship. God has been teaching me the importance of “why” and it has surprised me how easy it is to forget our roots. As worship leaders we are entrusted with the responsibility and privilege to lead people into His presence, but sometimes so easily we leave behind the basics: the Why behind What we do.
Why do we praise? Why do we sing? Why have drums? Is this something I spectate or can I participate? How do I know I’m really worshiping God? Do we need inears? Does He like our worship? Should I lift my hands? Why do we speak the way we speak? Are we relevant? Why close your eyes? What is worship? Is it Sunday’s music or is it bigger than that? When it comes down to it, worship is living a life that honours God, puts Him first & bears His fruit in love to those around us. Worship simply means “worthship” – placing value, worth, on to someone or something. We worship things, places, people in many different ways… but God desires we worship Him. Alone. I want everything I do to point people toward Jesus. So for me, living out a life of worship (a life placing worth on my Saviour) is essential in the day to day, to then serve on Sunday’s platform from a healthy overflow.
For many of us music is a beautiful space where we can meet with God. There is the most incredible force present when we get lost in music, driving through us. When we do this with a heart of honour and love for our Heavenly Father, from a place of thankfulness for what He has done, from our place of weakness found in His strength, from the caves of impossibility meets His infinite possibility, we are worshiping Him. It’s not a genre. It’s real, raw surrender. It’s joy when joy doesn’t come in our sorrow. It’s peace when there is chaos. It’s divine connection. Songs articulate our heart of worship in ways spoken words can’t. In conversation we would rarely verbalise some of the lyrics we sing because they sound silly. They’re not how we speak to one another. But we would sing them. Using music as a source of worship cuts across barriers in our own personal walk, it is the same in a corporate setting. Music is a beautiful tool. A divine, incredible opportunity to tune into something outside of ourselves, but also something we are able to offer our gifts and hearts to, to connect ourselves relationally with God, along with His people.
There have been times in my own journey where I just could not articulate how I am really doing or even in that disconnected dialogue close to God. In those moments where rosters override feeling, I felt convicted my own connection with God was to be transparent and true. Some weeks I was doing great with God, others not so much. Time and time again I have been reminded the importance of nesting in His Word privately. It is alive and powerful, so when I make room for it in my heart and world, He speaks clearer than ever. Behind the scenes leak into the center stage, it is our responsibility to keep in check with God. To make sure our first love isn’t tampered.
When I can’t find where to start I go to the book of Psalms. I love them. They are a great resource when all of the feels are in the way, where praise and worship are a hard ask, they provide the words in which we can declare His greatness, no matter the situation. Often once we start declaring His praise by using His Word, the words of thanksgiving create a way into our own vocabulary! The word “Praise” is mentioned over 175 times in the book of Psalms alone, which shows its importance in connecting with God in our own expressions of worship. I’ve found using His Words bridge the gap to me being able to express my own.
I want to encourage you from Psalm 150 today:
Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
There are three things I takeaway from this Psalm:
- Praise God In His house but also In the world surrounding. (It’s not exclusive to church…)
- Praise God For His greatness
- Praise God With music and the gifts He has given us
This Psalms’ natural emphasis on declaring praises to God is relevant in all circumstances. Our God is worthy of our praise in all that we do, for He truly has done great things for us – big & small. So sweet one, how are you going? Are you connecting with God in your everyday? No matter what season you are in, there is always something to praise God for. I encourage you to find one thing, even if it feels insignificant and use that as your pivot point to enter into everyday thanksgiving and cultivate a heart of praise.
Go on honey, start the conversation.