As I worshiped on Sunday morning, I was struck with the difference in how people participate in worship. My husband and I are totally opposite. I’m an exuberant worshipper and he is an introspective worshipper. While I am clapping or lifting my hands, swaying and singing, he is quiet and still, sometimes bowing his head. I used to wish he would be more like me, thinking my way of being in God’s presence was superior. But after 48 years of marriage, I’ve come to accept that we are unique individuals. At least, most days. But back to my topic—as my own worship journey has swung one way and back the other way, I have given myself permission to be free and honest in my worship, keeping in mind that my worship should not draw my or others’ attention away from God.

My heart for this post is that you will find the freedom to worship God in the way he has created you, that you will experience God’s pleasure in your offering, and that you let go of comparisons and feeling hindered by those who express themselves differently.

I have so many scriptures popping into my head, I’m going to have to edit. First, having the right attitude.

But the Lord told him, “Samuel, don’t think Eliab is the one just because he’s tall and handsome. He isn’t the one I’ve chosen. People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts.”

1 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭7‬ ‭CEV‬‬

This is a hard pill to swallow. Our culture leans heavily on the appearance of success. The saying, “Fake it ‘till you make it,” comes to mind. We apply this to worship sometimes. We see other people raise their hands or stand up and we follow their example even when we’re not comfortable. After all, isn’t this how a spiritual person is supposed to worship? We feel the pressure of Imposter Syndrome, so we join what others are doing. The opposite is true too, we may feel defensive and throw up our protective barriers, and because of our judgements our focus has shifted from God.

From now on, worshiping the Father will not be a matter of the right place but with a right heart. For God is a Spirit, and he longs to have sincere worshipers who adore him in the realm of the Spirit and in truth.

John‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭TPT‬‬

This verse sounds plain and simple at first glance, but I can see how it’s application can become a conceptual puzzle. How does a person worship in spirit and truth? I think it goes back to the condition of our hearts and our relationship with God. Worshipping in truth is relative to seeing – feeling – experiencing who God is and who we are as his creation. Then our worship can flow.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.‬‬

2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV

When we see the grace and love God has poured out on us, the walls and judgements fall like the walls of Jericho.

Freedom in worship is not limited to the music portion of church service, it extends into every aspect of our lives. This is addressed in Romans 14, when some believers started criticizing the practices of other believers. Here are a few scriptures, but I encourage you to read the whole exhortation.

In the same way, one person regards a certain day as more sacred than another, and another person regards them all alike. There is nothing wrong with having different personal convictions about such matters. For the person who observes one day as especially sacred does it to honor the Lord. And the same is true regarding what a person eats. The one who eats everything eats to honor the Lord, because he gives thanks to God, and the one who has a special diet does it to honor the Lord, and he also gives thanks to God.‬‬

Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭TPT

Our relationship with God informs our convictions. One of my convictions is that I am created to express my worship with exuberance and creativity and to honor his creative work in the uniqueness of each person he has called.

Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

Psalms‬ ‭150‬:‭6‬ ‭AMP‬‬

I hope I didn’t muddy my message. If you want to know all the modes of worship, try a word search for “praise him.” You’ll find all kinds of expressions. I just want you to feel okay if you clap when no one else is clapping. Or if you’re like my husband, not to have to sing to be in the presence of God. 😉

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

Image created in Canva.

PS: I’m thankful for my church and the freedom to publicly worship my God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.