And as I stood there, hands raised, engulfed in “worship”, I clearly heard the Lord say, “Dustin Mick, if I stopped blessing you today, would you still worship Me?”
I honestly couldn’t answer that question.
I immediately began to lower my hands and realized I wasn’t actually worshipping Jesus at all. I was worshipping the creation and not the Creator.
What I just shared is a pretty raw place in my heart at the moment. I’m struggling with it a bit. Why you ask? Because, as I look around, more and more, that’s what seems to be the popular thing in our culture for those following Jesus.
And I don’t want any part in that…
So, I post this blog not because I’m convinced that a lot of “worship songs” on the charts right now are bad, but instead out of a place of wondering and wanting to make sure my heart is set on things above and Who He Is, and not on what He can do for me.
An example of one of “those songs” would be, “You Make Me Brave” by Bethel. Hear my heart on this. I don’t share that to point fingers, but rather to be honest with where I am at with this. Allow me explain a little more.
I’m not saying that song is bad. What I’m asking is, is it ok to sing a song with hands raised in “worship,” when the song is not uplifting God and Who He Is, but rather what He does for me? Isn’t that in a sense worshipping the creation instead of The Creator? I’m just not sure we pay attention to what we sing in worship at times.
I understand that God uses that song (and others like it) to minister to people, call them out on the mission field, etc., but my question is, is it placed correctly in a worship set? Aren’t we called to worship Jesus? I know for that song specifically, it doesn’t even mention Jesus’ name in it.
That’s where my struggle lies. I see it everywhere. So many believers are worshipping God, but it seems to be out of a heart of “this is what I get out of this relationship and what God does for me” and not out of, “I’m gonna praise God and not because of anything He has done for me, but rather because of Who He Is and Who He Is alone.”
The scary part is, we’re held accountable for all of our worship and the idols we have in our lives. None of us were put here to glorify those around us or ourselves, but rather to give Him praise.
Also, don’t be mistaken. I believe in calling each other into holiness and a place of higher realization of who He has created us to be as believers, but there’s a difference in glorifying man and encouraging one another. I’m just not sure we do a good job nowadays of knowing the difference in the two.
I wonder what it would look like if we truly took a step back and really paid attention to what we’re raising our hands to? Ask yourself, “When did I last worship just because of Who He Is?” I know for myself I don’t do that near enough. I seem to only focus on what He has blessed me with or can do for me.
I want to be a man who is filled with worship for The Father, just because He’s God.
I’m thankful for the Lord calling me out on this, because I want all I do to be about Him. And I think in doing so, when hard times come and we don’t want to lift our hands, it’ll make it easier to say, “God, You truly are a good Father all the time, because if for no other reason, You gave the Ultimate sacrifice for me. And that’s enough.”
I’ll probably listen to the song again, and probably even hear it again in a worship service, but I don’t want to worship to it. However, I will posture my heart towards Him from now on.
My question to you is, what are you worshipping and when was the last time you worshipped Jesus just because He’s Jesus?
Love y’all.
“Not because of who I am, but because of what You’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done, but because of Who You Are.”
– "Who Am I" by Casting Crowns
