musical monday

There's such a benefit to being a part of a church choir. Not only are you blessed by leading the congregation in singing, but you also get to witness the congregation worshiping from a different view. As I look out at our church congregation each Sunday, I notice quite a spectrum of worshipers. From those who perhaps aren't so comfortable with singing, attempting to move their lips without drawing attention to themselves, to those who unashamedly seem to give their entire mouths and bodies over to the corporate time of worship. I am honestly blessed and humbled by both types of worshipers, though I guess I find myself falling somewhere in the middle.

I am intrigued by the first group because I honestly don't know what it's like to not like to sing. I spent many hours as a child and teenager "entertaining" my poor family as I would sing just about anything from Sandi Patty to TLC. And if no one was there to listen, I would sing anyway. I just love to sing. Those who struggle with singing cause me to be thankful of my God-given eagerness to sing.

The second group of worshipers challenges me to be more free in my witness and worship of my Savior. Growing up in more of a traditional church, where people did not raise hands, I have been stretched over the years as I "learned" to raise my hands and now enjoy worshiping in that way. Still, as I sing, there is often a "battle" raging in my mind some Sundays of whether or not to raise my hands in worship. During times when I have been faithfully relying on God's Word each day I seem to raise my hands with ease, and then other times when I am struggling to be faithful, I do find it harder to simply raise my hands in worship. I long to be so in tune with God that my outward expressions of worship are just an outcry of a humbled heart. Those who are so free in worship ignite a passion in me to grow closer to the Lord.

I loved watching our congregation yesterday as we sang the song You Are God Alone. As we sang more and more of the song, more and more hands could be seen across the sanctuary as the words resonated within their minds. How amazing to watch as God touched the hearts of His people who were offering praise to Him. As we come together to bless our Savior in our praise, we are uniquely blessed by Him in a way that just can't happen when we are alone.

No matter what "type" of worshiper you are, God desires to draw you even closer to Him and enable you to worship Him more intently. Are you open to His prompting within your worshiping heart?

"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips"

Psalm 63:1-5