If you read/watched my last post, you know that this past week our squad met up with three other squads. The video was a great summary of what happened. But I want to share with you on a deeper level on how the Lord worked in my life during that time.
The theme for myself during Awakening was BOLDNESS. Something that I have been praying to God for. Boldness to step out in my faith whether that was personally or sharing with others. Boldness to follow the Holy Spirit heartbeat and act on what God is telling me to do in that moment.
A step in boldness that I want to share with you happened the first day. We were asked to step into a group and help lead. Those groups were Intercession, Hospitality, Evangelism, Story-telling, and Worship. Naturally I wanted to be in the story telling group because that is where I am comfortable. I’m comfortable taking photos, or videos, and writing blog posts. But God had a different plan. He wanted me to be in the Worship group, even though I was terrified. I didn’t want to help lead worship and sing in front of a hundred or so people. But I listened, and I followed.
You see, in my past, I’ve sung in front of people, whether in church, youth group, or camp settings. It was fine. I never really enjoyed doing it. I was convinced that I didn’t have a good singing voice. I just did it because it was expected of me (if that makes sense). People have told me that I had a good singing voice but I never believed them.
When we broke into our groups, it was asked if someone wanted to sing the next morning. I once again didn’t want to, but God had other plans… so yes, that next morning I sang, but I didn’t just sing, I worshipped an amazing God. One that loves us unconditionally and has blessed me with a voice to share with others. I may have been standing in front of a bunch of people, but to me, it was just Him and me, standing there. I fell in love with worshipping God.
For most of the race, I’ve struggled to fully worship God without being distracted or thinking people were judging me. Thousands of questions would run through my mind during worship. Should I stand? Should I raise my hands? Should I dance? Should I sing louder? Am I singing off key? Should I pray out loud? Why can’t I worship like so-and-so? And the list goes on…
But you know what, it doesn’t matter what you do when you worship God. It doesn’t matter if you raise your hands. It doesn’t matter if you stand or sit or even kneel. It doesn’t matter if you sing off key. It doesn’t matter if you pray out loud or not. All that matters is that your heart is worshipping God the way you want. God is in love with you and smiles from ear to ear no matter how you worship Him.
Worship is a time for you and Him. A time that you get to praise a God that has done everything for you. Before every worship, I say to God “This is a time for you and me. Help me to worship You will all my heart, and not be distracted by others.” And God answers.
So where ever you are in your faith life. Wherever you are with worshipping God. I want to tell you, that God is calling you to worship Him in whatever way you are comfortable, because God doesn’t care, as long as you are praising Him.
You give life, You are love You bring light to the darkness You give hope, You restore Every heart that is broken Great are You, Lord It’s Your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise We pour out our praise It’s Your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise to You only And all the earth will shout Your praise Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing Great are You, Lord
