The Heart of Worship

When what you are “comfortable” with gets taken away, can and will you still worship!? When things are hard, will you still worship? I have been around the world and been able to worship my Lord in and through different things. We do not need to be at church to worship…we do not need a guitar or songs…in fact, we don’t need to be with a body of believers. We are to WORSHIP HIM at all times, in all things. We were created to worship our Lord!

This month, we are in a Country where church services are traditional and legalistic. We were told upon arrival that we are not allowed to dance or really raise our hands at church! When you are up on stage singing, and the Spirit is moving and yet we “can’t” move with the spirit, it becomes a challenge! How I wanted to dance! Yet not being able to dance was going to keep me from worshipping Him! I wanted to sway and praise the Lord freely, boldly and loudly, but knew that I couldn’t outwardly…yet I could still worship from deep within my heart, inwardly.

Here I am in a country where I feel like I can’t worship freely…yet the only thing holding me back is myself and the fear of man! We tend to hold back our worship in various ways – afraid of offending someone or what other’s may say or think! I am tired of being fake and living in my flesh while trying to worship my Father. I am sick of traditions, legalities, limitations and politics getting in the way, trying to keep the spirit from “moving”…however, we can’t stop the Spirit from moving! WORSHIP HIM FREELY…from the depths of your heart!

Even though I couldn’t dance and had to FIGHT to stand still and not “sway my hips” or raise my hands, I saw the Spirit of the Lord move in magnificent ways. In a way this village has never seen God! People were moved to tears through the songs God laid on our hearts to sing. The men spoke messages of hope, peace, freedom and salvation. We were praying…and before our eyes, a revival started! People were coming to know the Lord, repenting, coming forward for prayer and answering the call of our Heavenly Father for baptism! It was a beautiful sight. Emotions were flooding the room and the Spirit of God filled this place!

It was worship…in a way these Gypsies and Romanians had never experienced worship. Never experienced God. It was pure and holy and led by God. It was needed to break down the walls of what was “expected” to what is of God! It was as it was…worshipping God freely, beyond limitations, leading to being filled by the Holy Spirit!

I know I needed to be reminded that it doesn’t matter what kind of worship we do…if our hearts are pure, right and open before God, we are allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us into worship…not our songs, dancing, words or actions. Whether we worship sitting down or standing up, loud or quiet, alone or as a body doesn’t matter. What matter’s is our heart – expressing our adoration, reverence and love for God!