WORSHIP with an awareness of what’s happening in HEAVEN…
Zedino Seyie
GOD is the heart of worship. And any act that we think is worship IS NOT worship as long as it involves “me” “I” “my talents” “my voice” “my musicianship.” It isn’t about confidence either. Those of you who know me do not know me as a shy person. So yea, I thought I was worshipping if I could sing and lift my hands while the others were shy of doing so. And I sang and lifted my hands many times without really tapping into the heart of worship. I knew the songs, enjoyed the music, had the boldness to lift my hands and sing loud but not the worshipper’s heart. And I always loved worship. But it took God to break me over and over again to really lean in and tap into the heart of worship. To really connect to Him and build myself over and over again upon His Love, Grace and Mercy. And as I learnt to worship over and over again, it wasn’t just when I was in a church/fellowship worshipping, right on my bed or on the floor of my bedroom or even when I’m running errands and doing chores around the house, worship happened!
For many mature believers, who have the WORD so ingrained in them through years of attending church and listening to sermons, worship is what their hearts crave — not more sermons. ~ Julia Loren, Supernatural Anointing
It’s been a journey since, and I enjoy my worship moments in any church I go to, I love it when I’m worshipping in my room too all by myself, earphones plugged in with Jenn Johnson doing what she does amazingly, Hillsong weaving power in my ears and heart and many others who minister to me on the daily. That’s my style of worship. Our patterns may vary. Our views on worship also vary depending on who we are and what we do and what we’ve experienced so far. So today, I’ve had a few friends write on how each lives out their hearts of worship. May you be blessed as you read, and may our worship stories inspire all and propel all to push forward into the heart of Worship and lean in to His heart.
The Worship Leader’s Heart of Worship Noune Jonathan Khamo
I always thought genuine worship was just to focus on Him. Simple as that. And the best part is, that’s true! Genuine worship requires you to press into His very being and focus and bask in it. As a worship leader, I cannot even begin to reiterate the necessity of constantly pressing into His heart and learning who He is. To know His heart is easy and it’s quite hard as well.
His heart has been poured out to us in the written form-fitting His Word, His heart has been revealed to us in the flesh- In Jesus and He continues to reveal His heart through His creations and the circumstances you and I go through. The point is-His heart is for us. And in that realization, we do nothing but lead people to the heart of the One who considered us too precious to let go.
Learn the heart of the One you worship. A worship leader must be a worshipper!! It’s not surprising anymore that many worship leaders aren’t worshippers. At all. In my own experience, I had to go through 7 gruelling years of training, breaking and remoulding to be able to stand and lead worship today. I never started out wanting to be a worship leader. I wanted to be a dancer for the worship team. If that meant, I had to help with the vocals or the keys now and then, fine. But not leading. That’s not for me.
However, I started finding myself into situations where God was just breaking my heart again and again to things that broke His heart. From there, I learnt what His heart desires. And the moment, I realized what His heart desired, I could not wait to lead people to it. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t sing well, my musical skills are amateur at best and I’m not the best dancer in town. But all this did not matter. I just wanted His heart and wanted to people to know His heart.
This revelation did not come overnight. It built up during the 7 years of growing up and maturing. I’m so thankful for that. Also, as a worship leader, you must know who God is. How can you boast of your first Love without knowing His essential qualities? Worship Him for His Holiness, His sovereignty, His Kingship and Lordship, His authority and His power. Lean into His heart. Press in. It beats for you.
The Musician’s Heart of Worship Theja Khate
Most times a musician or a performer could very well seem like the ‘front view’ of worship. There could just be a thin line separating ‘worshipping in spirit and in truth’, and worship just becoming a performance-oriented show. You want to worship in spirit yet sometimes your musical OCDs kick in and though they’re helpful most times, can be very distracting in worship. I’m speaking subjectively in my case. I have OCDs towards pitch, dynamics, rhythm, diction, etc. to name a few. To be in tune and in time and be sensitive to the musical dynamics, lyrics, sequences, all at the same time can take our minds off the primary purpose of worship. But to play skillfully is only Biblical and I believe that comes through practice, hard work and most of all through the leading of the Holy Spirit.
By His grace, today I can play the drums and sing along in worship and not just performing but really, truly absorbed in worshiping my GOD and my SAVIOUR. At all times we have to remind ourselves as worship leaders/musicians that God is the only audience! When that happens we begin to realise our position in worship — that we are just and only worshippers and needn’t be too concerned about what we sing or play and perform as long as the heart of worship lives in us.
The Mother’s Heart of Worship Martha Kiso
“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him…and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” – John 4: 23-24 Worship means the feelings or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. I worship because I love my Lord Jesus. I worship not to get God’s attention or to get God to do something for me. I worship to maintain my right and my Cause (Psalm 9:4) Worship is the highest form of expression of oneself to the Almighty God. Worship delivers, heals and refreshes me in the spirit. It helps me to operate with more Love. When I worship I perform my acts of adoration with spiritual songs,new song,tongue,lifting hands,bowing and kneeling and standing. We have to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit; when we are worshipping, our spiritual antennas have to be pointing UP.
Always maintain the standard of worship in your actions and words.
But worship isn’t musical. It’s relational and sacrificial. So is motherhood. Laundry can be holy. Dishes, diapers, dinner prep can be His. Everything I do, everything that comes from me, words, work, wiping counter tops and baby bottoms, can all be worship.
If my heart is giving it to Him. Doing it as if for Him. To give Him honor and reflect His glory. If I use each task as an “altar” to remind me to praise Him, obey Him, trust Him, love Him, repent and sacrifice out of obedience and trust. – Marie Osbourne
WORSHIP AT THE HOSPITAL Dr. Puteü Losu
Worship is to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission.(webster’s dictionary) It is a matter of the heart. It is not just limited to singing slow, meaningful songs in church, praying,volunteering,tithing. IT IS AN EXPRESSION OF YOUR LOVE FOR GOD AND HOW YOU CHOOSE TO SUBMIT TO HIS WILL ON A DAILY BASIS.
As a recently graduated doctor, I’ve been blessed to have had the opportunity to study and complete my internship at one of India’s top medical institutions. Working in a ‘Survival of the fittest’ environment and at the same time trying to uphold one’s Christian beliefs and values is not an easy task. It has caused me to be singled out so many times for going against the flow of the world and choosing not to do what everyone else is doing. It has also brought me in contact with people from all walks of life and different religion backgrounds in the form of patients, workers, colleagues and higher ups- among whom some have tested my patience and kindness to the highest level possible. As a student I’ve been constantly bombarded and haunted by the unspoken rule that if I don’t perform well, I’m worthless and good for nothing. As an intern I’ve had to work my butt off to prove myself and gain the acceptance of my seniors, I’ve been deprived of my basic rights i.e. food, water and sleep in some departments due to heavy workload, been shouted at and blamed for other people’s mistakes, witnessed hopelessness and the pain of losing a loved one through the eyes of my patients countless number of times, I’ve seen kids being abandoned because their parents could not afford to pay for treatment and female babies being disowned for being born a ’female’ and the list goes on.
So, In the midst of all these, how do I worship?? How do I worship on a daily basis when all I see when I look around is stress, pain, hurt and hopelessness???
It starts with putting God as the top priority in my life and living a Christ centred life. I try to base everything i do on “what would Jesus have done?” Allowing His Love and Grace to dictate every word I speak, every choice I make and every deed I perform has helped me to be patient and understanding when I am being mistreated and wrongly accused, it has helped me to show love and kindness towards people who don’t deserve any, it has given me the strength and courage to maintain my integrity, and best of all it has helped me to pursue my work with passion and joy, allowed me to use my God given abilities to the fullest because it’s not about my Glory but for His Glory. This is how I allow myself to worship God on a daily basis. I’m continually strengthened and encouraged by the fact that God’s love for us is constant. It doesn’t change – it is the same yesterday, today and forever. He wants to be an active part of your live and my life. He’s our FATHER – a good, good father, And the best part is that were loved by Him. What more do we need than to be loved and accepted by The Lord God Almighty, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth who is perfect in all of His ways. Allow His love and His grace to work in you and change your life from the Inside Out just like it did to my life.
“Worship songs can’t just be rooted in culture – they won’t be deep enough. They have to be rooted in scripture.” -Matt Redman
“As we see the beauty of God and feel His weightiness in our hearts, our hearts begin to desire God more than we desire sin. Before the Bible says, “stop sinning,” it says “Behold your God.” -JD Greear
Psalm 31:19-22 What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you, Ready and waiting for all who run to you to escape an unkind world. You hide them safely away from the opposition. As you slam the door on those oily, mocking faces, you silence the poisonous gossip. Blessed God! His love is the wonder of the world. Trapped by a siege, I panicked. “Out of sight, out of mind,” I said. But you heard me say it, you heard and listened.
