Boldness in Worship

I've said before that I was a bouncer by nature, but that I didn't think I'd ever be a jumper. So, in case that's not immediately clear, I'll give you a hint: I'm talking about worship.

I know this type of thing varies widely from church to church; styles are different, and there isn't one right worship style or any style that's wrong. In fact, I took a seminar once on "right brained worship" that was very inspiring and cool.

According to good ole Merriam-Webster, worship has several definitions. My two favorite:

1) reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power ; also : an act of expressing such reverence & 2) extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem

So, let me ask you this: How often do you think about the people next to you in worship? I'll admit that I think about them often. Who is around me? What are they thinking? How do I look in the middle of this?

Those thoughts come to me less and less, and I have decided to start praying for them to go away whenever they come into my mind. Worship is about God. Not about me. And yes, I'm someone who tends to bounce and bop by nature. I found myself recently moved to jump up and down too (this happens a lot at the church I attend... we like to rock out with the worship tunes). Then, while away at a conference (which included a lot of awesome worship), I also found myself wanting to sort of jump and spin. Yes, that's what I said. Jumping & spinning around.

So, I did.

Then, later, I found myself feeling the urge to get down on my knees and just keep bowing down to Him over and over again, while the worship band sang a refrain of "Hallelujah" again and again. So, I did.

I admit; this was definitely the boldest I'd ever been in worship. And, I hope it continues. Being self-conscious while I'm praising God is exactly the opposite of what I want...literally! Worship time is about worship, not about me. So, the less conscious I am of me, the better.

The greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all our hearts, soul & mind! And if I'm not doing that in the midst of times set aside for worship, I definitely feel I have something more to strive for.

Now, one thing I want to make clear: I don't think that letting go in worship has to include bowing down or jumping around or even bopping! You don't even have to put your arms up! I think it's about our focus. And, for me, when I stop myself from what I might feel naturally pulled to do because of my awareness of others around me and/or their judgment, I take my eyes off of Him and miss the mark.

I recently came across this story in 2 Samuel; it's been on my heart and mind a lot lately, and is (in part) the inspiration for this post. I think there is a lot that can be learned from it. I'll close with this for today. The bold demarkations are mine; enjoy.

"It was reported to King David that God had prospered Obed-Edom and his entire household because of the Chest of God. So David thought, "I'll get that blessing for myself," and went and brought up the Chest of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David, celebrating extravagantly all the way, with frequent sacrifices of choice bulls. David, ceremonially dressed in priest's linen, danced with great abandon before God. The whole country was with him as he accompanied the Chest of God with shouts and trumpet blasts. But as the Chest of God came into the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, happened to be looking out a window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before God, her heart filled with scorn.

They brought the Chest of God and set it in the middle of the tent pavilion that David had pitched for it. Then and there David worshiped, offering burnt offerings and peace offerings. When David had completed the sacrifices of burnt and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies and handed out to each person in the crowd, men and women alike, a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then everyone went home.

David returned home to bless his family. Michal, Saul's daughter, came out to greet him: "How wonderfully the king has distinguished himself today—exposing himself to the eyes of the servants' maids like some burlesque street dancer!" David replied to Michal, "In God's presence I'll dance all I want! He chose me over your father and the rest of our family and made me prince over God's people, over Israel. Oh yes, I'll dance to God's glory—more recklessly even than this. And as far as I'm concerned...I'll gladly look like a fool...but among these maids you're so worried about, I'll be honored no end."

Michal, Saul's daughter, was barren the rest of her life." 2 Samuel 12-23 (MSG)