Like just about everyone else, I thought that worship was the time when you sang songs to the Lord on Sunday.
But every time I came to worship in the last few years it just got harder and harder. Why is that?
Because it felt like the words I was singing did not match up to how I was living.
Let me give an example. We’re gonna start with Oceans by Hillsong:
“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me…”
First of all… those words are freaking powerful.
Let’s start with just the first line, “lead me where my trust is without borders.”
By singing this you are declaring a limitless trust in God. How often does a day go by without worry? If I’m worrying am I trusting that God has His hand over the situation?
Okay next line, “Let me walk upon the waters.”
This is where things really get shaky for me. This line is about trusting that if and when I take a step in faith, that God is going to come through and work miracles.
Literally miracles.
I know a really good portion of the people reading this don’t actually believe in that kind of thing. However, I have seen instant miracles take place before so I don’t have the option of sitting back and shrugging the idea off…and it terrifies me sometimes. Probably because I ask myself too often “what if nothing happens?” So what! The person will be happy you cared enough to pray for them!!
I also ask myself, “what if they think I’m weird or crazy?”
But why should I care? I should only be concerned with what God thinks.
Whether or not anything happens you should be stepping in faith. This can mean something slightly more boring: work.
The more I think about worship the more I’m convinced that it’s less about singing and more about doing the things you sing about.
Okay so I’m going on the World Race (obviously.) This means I need to fund raise a lot of money so I can go. Like any reasonable human being I started to panic as I processed the magnitude of sixteen thousand dollars. And I totally believe in the Lord’s provision. And I totally believe that at times, He will do crazy crazy things and come through.
But that doesn’t mean I can sit back.
Working for the Lord is a form worship.
Sacrificing your time and energy so you can accomplish what God asks of you is more meaningful than singing about doing anything for God.
Next part of the song!
“[Let me walk upon the waters], Wherever you may call me.”
Am I willing to go anywhere or do anything for the Lord? I like to think I am, but sometimes I’m not so sure.
Once, Jesus asked the rich young ruler to sell everything he owns, give to the poor, and come follow Him. So could I literally do that?
“Oh, but Laura…that’s not what this passage is saying!”
I hear that sort of thing a lot.
I’m simple. I think that if Jesus says ‘sell everything and give to the poor’ that’s what He means.
And maybe that’s not suitable for a lot of circumstances, but I reading the passage makes me feel the weight of what following Jesus looks like. I read about Jesus saying stuff like that and I think, “This guy means business!”
It hits hard. I just find it hard to walk away from something like that thinking it’s just symbolic or that it only meant something then, but not now. Surrendering everything your have to Jesus (literally everything)–that must be the greatest form of worship ever. I am continually praying that I would have a better sense of what it means to surrender every area of my life to Him.
I’ve only got three months! I’m praying that I could live out and process these things on a whole new level and I hope you’ll do the same too!! Love ya’ll!!!
