The Treasure of Worship

John 4:23-24:  "It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before Him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration."

I want to write about worship in this Treasure.  Since spending time in the pit I have been through many different phases of worship.  Like many things on the journey of life, worship also has been a process for me, something I needed to learn.

I think my “process” went something like this:

1. Too Angry to worship

2. Going through the motions of worship

3. Struggling to decide if I even wanted to worship anymore – or just quit God all together

4. Acknowledging that God owes me nothing – yet gave me everything

5. Realizing that I can’t worship if I don’t participate

6. Grasping the concept that the very least I can do is worship The One who loves me too much to leave me as I am.

Too Angry To Worship:  This is not the easiest one to talk about because when I look back now I feel so immature and disappointed with myself.  I acted like a child.  I was mad at my situation and blamed God for it and couldn’t understand why He wouldn’t fix things when I demanded Him to.  Questions like:  “Why me?”  “What did I do to deserve this?” “You can fix anything so why aren’t you helping me?”  It was all about ME.  I have learned you cannot worship in anger.

Going Through The Motions:  I think we will call this phase my robot mode.  I would show up to Church, smile, shake hands, sing the words to the songs, try not to listen to the sermon and try hard to think about anything else that did not include worship, church or God. I was just doing my thing because I was the preacher’s wife and I needed to keep up appearances.  Let’s just say there were some pretty rough Sundays in the Fancy household.  One of the hardest things in ministry is struggling to deal with your own problems and family problems while still living in the “fishbowl”.  

Struggling To Decide What I Wanted:  This was where the rubber met the road, so to speak.  Was I going to be all in? OR Was I going to quit?  The choice was completely mine.  God never forces us to do anything, we all have freewill.  What did I want?  Did God matter in my life?  I was tired and discouraged and needed to decide that even if God didn’t give me what I wanted,  was I going to follow Him?  I was at the crossroads.  This is a scary place to be.  I think it is this very moment in time that can change the course of our lives forever.   I didn’t know what I wanted and I’m not sure I really cared what happened anymore.  I was just tired of the struggle of life and all the things that seemed so wrong.  Thankfully, God was standing at the crossroads with me and when I turned His direction He welcomed me with open arms.  If you are at the crossroads, He is right there waiting for you.  All you have to do is turn to Him.  He loves you.

Acknowledging God Owes Me Nothing:  It seems that somewhere along this journey of life I decided that God owed me something.  I had given my life to Him, married a preacher, moved anywhere we felt He was leading us to go, given up my New York family, friends, etc..etc… Let me say here how WRONG I was.  God has never owed me anything. God does not owe you anything.  God has given us everything already.  God sent His very son to die for you and me when we were so unworthy, so unlovable, so wretched.  I owe everything I have to God: my life, my family, my possessions, EVERYTHING!  May God forgive us if we are thinking “It’s the least He can do.”  Remember that old song: “He paid a debt He did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay…?”

Realizing Worship Is An Action:   Have you ever heard the phrase “You get back what you put in?”  For some reason during this process I was finally getting the fact that although God was  willing and wanted to spend time with me, it was my choice.  It will always be my choice.  Worship is something I do, whether it be spending time in the Word, prayer, music, devotions, etc…it is something I need to DO!  I can’t truly worship if I don’t do my part.  

Worship Is The Very Least I Can Do:  After years of “processing” many things I realized that He has given me so much and the very least I can do is freely worship Him without being held back by fear of what others will think.  I cannot fathom all He has done for me and the kind of love he has for me.  How can I not give Him ALL my worship?  God did not hold anything back from me, He gave His all for my life.  I am so unworthy and He is so worthy.  Therefore, I will give Him all my worship – no fear, no embarrassment – just me and The Father spending time together.  I want to be where He is.  I want to be in His presence.  I cannot wait for the day when I worship in Heaven with the King of Kings!  I want to be in the front row, I want to bow before Him, I want to raise my hands in worship, I want to sing and dance, I want to give Him all the praise and honor and glory that He is due!  What a day that will be!

As I said above, I am not proud of some of these phases but they been part of my journey. Thankfully God never gives up on us, He is always there just waiting for us to turn to Him and be all in – to give Him our entire life.  If you haven’t given Him your all – it’s never too late. He is waiting for you.  Don’t delay any longer.  If you’re holding back worship due to fear or feel like you are not worthy to worship, let it go!  Give your worship to God.  He is worthy of your praise!  

If you are at a crossroads in your life, RUN to Jesus.  He will meet you right where where you are.

“God is waiting anxiously to lead each of us in the dance of praise. God is on a mission - a quest. He is looking for worshipers. As he constantly draws each of us into a deeper and more intimate friendship with himself, he is creating within us hearts that will praise him.”

( C. Cloninger) 

So, until I write again I encourage you to:  Be Strong, Stand Firm and Believe in Miracles!  

Our God is a God of Miracles!     

Count Your Blessings,