NOW YOU REALLY GET TO WORSHIP ME

A few years ago, I was playing violin in an early morning worship set with Skyler and Kim Walker-Smith. I loved playing with them and was feeling so thankful to do so. Afterwards, I drove directly to a dress rehearsal conducting a 1st-4th grade kid’s choir at my children’s school. As I stepped up the path to enter the building, I heard God’s clear and distinct voice say, “Now you REALLY get to worship me.” 

I looked at the next three hours with completely new eyes and spoke into kids I would have otherwise missed. I literally eyeballed each one of those children and made sure I connected with them on their different levels. I remember the moments as a child when I felt ‘seen’ by adults who built into me with one timely word or phrase and I stood taller. The profound reality of that sentence still impacts me.

“Now you really get to worship me” also says there is an opportunity to choose to worship. We have the privilege to worship in all circumstances. There were times when I was isolated at home with my children while my husband travelled and it felt SO hard to choose worship. During that time I took Psalm 101:2 as my own: “I WILL lead a life of integrity in my own home.” (NLT) I get to choose the higher road. I WILL choose to “put on the garment of praise instead of heaviness.” (Is 61: 3) I WILL choose to “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise”. (Ps 100:4 NIV)

To ‘see’ those who others miss when you are busy. Worship.

To linger a few minutes at bedtime looking into your child’s eyes when you are tired. Worship. 

To place value on those around you by gifting them your time. Worship.

To choose peace over conflict. Worship.

To put your whole self into your workplace. Worship.

To speak with honor whether it is reciprocated or not. Worship.

To do what you love and have fun doing it. Worship.

To branch out and say yes when the easier answer is no. Worship.

To play in a worship band or conduct a children’s choir. Worship.

“Now you really get to worship me.” 

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.” 

(Luke 10:27 NIV)