One of my favorite quotes goes like this.
“In regards to the Christian life, one good shorthand is to say that since we worship our way into sin, we worship out way out.”
A few nights ago my room mates and I lounged around our quaint living room complaining. Yes, even ‘good missionaries’ complain. We complained about our small wardrobes, our lack of relationships, our empty support accounts, the difficulties of work and community life, and the list goes on. A good amount of complaining was done before the above quote popped into my head.
“Since we worship our way into sin, we worship our way out.”
Honestly, nothing in me wanted to thank God. My self-centered mind believed for a moment that I didn’t have anything to be thankful for. In that moment, Holy Spirit brought a picture to my mind of a man I saw in Ecuador.
We didn’t meet, we didn’t exchange greetings, we merely shared a brief moment in time as my team drove by him in our car one day. This man had no feet. His ripped jeans were tied up and under the stubs that he somehow balanced on. The sweat and dirt that covered his bare chest pointed to the fact that he had probably been walking a long while.
How could I ever forgotten this man. I immediately I spoke out thanksgiving.
“Thank you God for my feet”
My heart didn’t want to continue, but my something in spirit just HAD TO. Although the sentences came slowly, I began. “Thank you for a real bed, thank you for heat, thank you for socks, thank you for the chance to work with Adventures, thank you that I have food in the pantry.” Sounds of agreeance came from two corners of our room and I observed a drastic change of mannerism in my friends.
“Don’t stop,” Allie said as she pranced across the room, “Its making me dance!”
Savannah’s ballerina toes began to point and twirl, which told me she felt the same way.
Praises and thanks began to flow of my tongue and I stood up to join the dancing. Around the room we all began to jump, leap, clap, and spin. Our african drum who usually resides in the corner of the room, was placed front and center.
''You are enough!", we screamed, as three colorful scarves made their way into our circle and began to fly and wave amongst our hands. An hour passed just enjoying Gods presence and declared the truths of who we KNEW Him to be. Call me crazy….but we danced and the atmosphere changed.
The evening was pure joy, and the three of us often had to stop, hunched over our knees because of the uncontrollable laughter that overcame us. There is no doubt in my mind that God joined in with our fun.
Sometimes all we need to do to get out of our sin, our funk, is to worship. When we recognize Jesus in a place, things just change. We don’t really even have to try to figure things out….things just shake off. I encourage you next time you experience a moment of frustration, anger, grief, depression, whatever it is, just start worshiping. Thank God for who He IS, even if you might not fully see it in that moment. Maybe have your own dance party. See what happens.
