What really makes worship, worship? Its a question I have been asking myself recently. I guess I had found many ways to worship and different tactics had worked for different congregation settings. But I was stumped at me was what lay at the core of true worship.
Last week I lost a good friend of mine to leukaemia. It came as a shock to me, I had seen him two months prior and he was in good spirits. I remember him telling me about how great stuff is happening with a small group at his house and how they are expanding and planting out. I was so excited for him, he had barely been out of the hospital a few days from chemo and he was upbeat. I remember him telling me that his body had stopped responding to treatment but with a smile on his face he said he trusted God. Truly his joy was evident, it allowed him to worship God.
So it hit me that one of the fundamental pillars of worship is joy. Joy allows us to really see God for me the definition of joy is a satisfaction in God. Just thinking that we all find ourselves in times that are tough. It may be trying to make the most of our study time in University and our loved ones are not loving us the way we want them to. How then do we continue to be unseen worshippers? How do we honour and praise God in these tough times? I say by being joyful, finding joy in unhappiness means being satisfied in who God is, and trusting Him, not that he will change the situation but because He is trustworthy.
Isn't good to have amazing people in life who remind you of just how joyful we can be in Christ. I wrote all the stuff above a few days ago but hadn't quite found a peace of scripture that went with my thoughts on that night. I read again a post today by Kate Andre that she wrote a while ago http://kateandre.com/2011/10/17/thankful-for-you-love/(definitely worth a read) and someone commented and gave this verse: Psalm 4:8-9
You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and new wine abound.
I will both lie down and sleep in peace,
for You alone, Lord, make me live in safety(HCSB)
than they have when their grain and new wine abound.
I will both lie down and sleep in peace,
for You alone, Lord, make me live in safety(HCSB)
The sovereignty of our King, Jesus is amazing. I wonder how anyone can sleep at night not knowing that there is someone much bigger looking out for them.
I will end this off this post with a one sentence eulogy for my friend Felix Chidembo: "He was a man that found his joy in Jesus until his last breath"
Love, peace and happiness
Tau
1 comment:
truly a word in season...really encouraged it reminds me off this verse Psalms 63:5-7 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
God gives us joy because He is joyful. He is the source of joy, just as He is the source of love, of truth, of mercy, and so on. Joy is both a description of God and a description of what He gives.
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