Greetings on this beautiful morning in the Name of the One who brings abundant life, Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! I trust that you have enjoyed the last few days and that God has blessed you in ways that have brought peace, joy, and hope to your life. Here we are one month from Christmas…and one month-one week away from 2016…can you believe how fast time slips away from us? Today I will be praying for you using the words of the songwriter, John Oxenham…”‘Mid all the traffic of the ways-Turmoils without, within-Make in our heart a quiet place-And come and dwell therein = A little shrine of quietness-All sacred to thyself-Where thou shalt all our soul possess-And we may find ourself = A little place of mystic grace-Of self and sin swept bare-Where we may look upon thy face-And talk with thee in prayer = Come, occupy our silent place-And make they dwelling there-More grace is wrought in quietness-Than any is aware.”
I was blessed to attend a concert featuring one of my favourite Christian musicians, Don Moen. Now he doesn’t define himself as a songwriter or worship leader or producer or business man…although he wears all those hats. He says of himself: “I am an architect who designs products and events that help people experience God’s presence in a new and fresh way.” And that is what he did in the concert…he focused the audience’s attention on God so that we could have a new and fresh experience.
One of the foundational messages, Don gives is that – God dwells in the praises of His people! As I heard that message again, thank you Don Moen, I was reminded that the worship and praise of God is an activity that demands our participation. Too often I hear people comment that God seemed to be absent at a service/gathering…was it because there was no “praises” for him to inhabit? I was also reminded that the worship and praise of God is a “team-sport” and that each one in a service/gathering has a responsibility to participate in as best they can so as to encourage someone else (Hebrews 10:25).
While I am on the analogy-theme, I was watching one of my favourite programs and the character was commenting on the game of golf saying,“It really isn’t a sport, there is no defense…no opposition to beat!” So, in my mind worship and praise of God is a “real sport” because there is a very strong and dangerous opponent who is defending his territory. In fact, Jesus said this enemy’s aim is to: “…to steal and kill and destroy;…” John 10:10a NIV
Please allow me one more analogy…worship and praise of God is a participation sport,a team-sport, against a real opposing team…but it is also an “interactive sport” – God is there in the viewing stands responding to our worship and praise with cheering from the sidelines, strong words of encouragement, and His own song that he sings over us…Zephaniah 3:17. Can you imagine the symphony of our worship and praise being blended with heaven’s symphony of pleasure. No wonder Zephaniah says: “Don’t let your hands hang limp” Zephaniah 3:16 NIV.
So let me encourage you…over the next few weeks, when you have opportunity to worship and praise God – don’t be a limp, resentful, disinterested bystander: participate, encourage your team mates, overpower the enemy, and listen for the heavens reverberating in response.
Have a great day – be blessed!