2 minute read
A Purposed Creation
WORSHIP IS BEAUTIFUL
written by Kerri Bridges
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(Psalm 98:4 KJV)
I love beautiful worship. When a gifted vocalist opens her mouth, allowing lovely, graceful notes to waft through the air, I just want to close my eyes and drink in the delicate tones as I lift my heart up to the Father. As a musician, when I hear the artful sounds of an instrument masterfully played by a skilled artist, I am enraptured.
Recently I was standing beside my friend, Mary, during a worship service. I’ve never heard her sing, and even within inches of her, she remained mute to barely audible. I didn’t think much of it at that moment.
Later as the service closed and we were strolling down the sidewalk outside, Mary sheepishly said to me, “I hope you don’t mind my singing.”
“No, of course not! Not at all!” was my reply. I assured her that I hadn’t even heard her voice.
She proceeded to tell me how her ex-husband, a very talented singer, used to criticize her for what he deemed unacceptable vocal skills. I was disheartened to hear that she had been discouraged from using the voice God gave her to express her heart. Her worship had been silenced in the name of excellence and performance.
How many of you hold back in worship because you’re afraid of others hearing your voice? How many of you secretly judge others whose pitchy tones offend your trained ears? In today’s perfectionism culture, fueled by game shows that require flawless performances and social media that holds us to the highest standard, is reverent worship suffering?
To clarify, we have at our fingertips unlimited access to incredibly anointed musicians - bands, worship teams, and singer/songwriters. So many that we could never exhaust the supply. Enter any given church on any given Sunday, and you will hear wonderful displays of praise going up to the throne of God. We are thankful for all of these servants and all they put into their craft for the glory of God.
However, God desires the praises of ALL His people, not just those on the stage.
(John 4:23-24 ESV)
God does not hear with physical ears; He hears the spirit, the heart of our praise. He is not sitting on His throne with a pen and pad ready to rate our performance. He is seeking a true spirit of worship. Imagine if we had a choir of innumerable voices pouring forth praise on this earth, shaking it, moving mountains, reaching to the heavens! Ignore the naysayers. Reject the scorn. Sing your heart out! Let no one silence your voice because true worship, no matter how it sounds, is beautiful.
(Psalm 150:6 ESV)
