Let loose your praise!

Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the Lord Most High is awesome. — Psalm 47:1-2                                

On the left side of the aisle three people sat stiffly in the pew; on the right side sat a man in a wheelchair. When the congregation stood to sing, the man on the right had someone help him stand. The three on the left had their arms folded; the man on the right strained to lift his weak arms toward heaven. As the music swelled to a crescendo, the man on the right closed his eyes and struggled to make his mouth form the words of the familiar song; the three on the left stared straight ahead, their lips sealed.

Obviously I do not know the hearts of anyone in this story, but when I heard it, I knew I had to examine my own. The story reminded me that I often do more pouting than praising in church. Instead of concentrating on the God I worship, I often criticize the way others are worshiping.

When King David worshiped the Lord exuberantly, his wife called him shameless. He said, “I will be even more undignified than this and will be humble in my own sight” (2 Samuel 6:22). He knew that being God-conscious couldn’t co-exist with being self-conscious.

Taking worship seriously means taking ourselves less seriously. Worship is not about holding on to our dignity; it’s about letting loose our praise. — Julie Ackerman Link

Worship, praise, and adoration,

All are due to Jesus’ name;

Freely give your heart’s devotion,

Constantly His love proclaim. — Anon. 

READ: 2 Samuel 6:12-23

We can never praise God too much!

The Bible in one year:

• Acts 10-12