realize a way that I let myself get in the way; another way that I am selfish. The pastor was giving his usual speech about
how we shouldn’t clap our hands for God. We clap our hands at concerts, for the president, or when someone
achieves something great. We clap our
hands for men, but God deserves more. God doesn’t want our leftover praise. We lift our hands to God as a sign of surrender and shoe how we
completely rely on him.
I’d heard him say these things before but this time I was
tired and I didn’t feel like lifting my hands. God would understand. I’d already
been to multiple services that week and I just didn’t want to do what was being
asked. It wasn’t about what God wanted;
it was about what I wanted. I realized that
so often I praise God how I want to. I
sing, I dance, I lift my hands. But only
if I’m in the right mood, have enough energy, and the people around me aren’t
going to think I’m crazy. That’s some
pretty self-centered worship. God didn’t
say to praise Him, to pray to Him, only when it’s convenient. Contrary to some of my thinking, my worship
and communication with God actually needs to be done even if it’s a sacrifice. Sometime I have to set myself aside and
remember that God is always worthy, always loving, always just, and always
deserves my praise….whether I feel like it or not. So I lift my hands and don’t put on some fake
smile or pretend to on some spiritual high. But I do surrender myself to my creator and ask Him to renew my desire
for Him.
