"I have told you these things so that you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
"The Lord gives strength to his people, he blesses his people with peace." Jer. 29:11
"Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts..." Psalm 95:6-8
The word 'worship' is used 250 times in the NIV translation. The word is used for two purposes: 1. to describe how, when and why we should worship (either through historical accounts or through instruction)/ 2. to tell us what NOT to worship.
Reading the above verses in order helps remind me of the progression my thoughts should take as I consider my life and any event within it.
With each thought and interaction with the world, I need to be aware that I am a sheep, and the devil is prowling the outskirts of the the flock, waiting to pick off a stray. I need to be alert not only for my own protection, but for my husband, my children and my family in general. I have to remember that each person God has brought into my life is family, and he expects me to love them as I myself desire to be loved. This can start to seem overwhelming. But wait...
Christ has overcome the world! This truth is like going in to diffuse a bomb, KNOWING that it won't detonate. Whatever trouble I face, the end result is covered on my behalf by the creator of the universe. I mean, come on. How can I worry about a conflict or a painful day when the Almighty Being who took dirt and molded it into a living, breathing, walking, talking, thinking, feeling human being has my back? No sweat.
Not only that, but God promises to give me strength and peace. What's that? I'm sorry God, but this deal seems too good to be true. First, you've gone ahead of me and revealed the achilles heel of my enemy. Now you're telling me I get your strength and peace straight out of your personal stash? Really? Why me? I'm just... me. Well, if you can love me like that then-
Daddy, I will bow down in worship, kneeling before the Lord my Maker, for you are my God and I am a sheep in your pasture, in the flock under your care. Today, as I hear your voice, I will not harden my heart, but leave it soft and pliable in your hands, to shape as you desire. I thank you God for your choice to let me choose you, but to not make me fight for you. While you could have sat up on a summit we would never reach, and seperated yourself from the filth of our sin, you didn't. You rolled up your sleeves and said these are my kids. If they're gonna roll in the mud, then I'm gonna give them a bath. You washed us in the blood of your Son. Because of your choice we can choose to live in your Word and to live out Your Spirit. We can choose Life. Thank you for your Gift.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Notice how the Psalm 95:6 ends with an admonishment to choose to not harden our hearts. Essentially, it goes right back to I Peter 5:8. This is what God revealed to me as I sought him over the topic of worship as a life choice. And here's my conclusion:
If it is not an act of worship, it's NOT worth doing.
So now it's time to evaluate the schedule and get out the big honkin' pruning sheers and start cutting.
As Matthew West put it, "This might hurt, it's not safe, but I know that I've gotta make a change. I don't care if I break, at least I'll be feeling something. Just okay is not enough. Help me fight through the nothingness of... life. I don't wanna go through the motions. I don't wanna go one more day, without your all-consuming passion inside of me. I don't want to spend my whole life asking, what if I had given everything?"
