The Post Newspaper Contributing Writer
As a youth I attended a few rock concerts in my day.
I recall how my friends and I counted down the days until “THE” day arrived bringing with it our favorite bands.
Toxic fumes from hairspray cans filled my parents house. We would run through upteen different outfit changes, before settling back on the first one.
All the way to Houston there would be wrestling matches over the cassette player, the winner’s favorite song receiving the most rewinds.
As we arrived in the parking lot I would experience a giddiness in the pit of my stomach. Hundreds and hundreds of people all coming together with one main purpose. PARTY!!!
Suddenly the lights would dim. The crowd roars and claps with intermittent shrill whistles. You could see dark figures stroll across the stage and take up their instruments.
PEOPLE WOULD GO NUTS!!!! The energy in the place was tangible. You could feel it.
Every one of us on our feet, waving our arms and jumping up and down. We cheered at full octave ranges that threatened to bring down the walls.
And the band hasn’t even played a lick of music yet.
All eyes were on these “gods,” that we had worshiped through television, radio, magazines and now, here they were, right in front of us!
Sports events aren’t much different. We will go to the extremes for our teams. I have shouted at the TV and on the sidelines. GO! STOP! GET’EM. HIT’EM. THROW IT! CATCH IT! KICK IT! TAG EM! PASS IT! DUNK IT! SHOOOOOT IT!!! YEAH!!!!!!!
And without much thought about how my behavior appeared to anyone else.
But when it comes to worshiping God. Shhhhh! Put on our solemn and serious Christian face. No emotion except perhaps sadness, regret, or worse yet – boredom. Now I understand being reverent before the Lord, and I am not suggesting that we just lose all control ….
But, after all, WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED and WE’RE NOT GOING TO HELL and ALMIGHTY GOD LOVES US and WE HAVE RECEIVED GOD’S GRACE AND MERCY and WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED and WE ARE IN AN UNBREAKABLE COVENANT WITH THE ONLY TRUE LIVING GOD through JESUS CHRIST so isn’t that worth more than just a “Hallelujah” every once in a while?
So close your eyes and imagine you are waiting for KING JESUS to appear.
He loves you. He died for you. He has risen for you. He lives in you. And you are about to be in His awesome presence.
There is a heavenly thickness in the air around you. You recall the first time you met. When you experienced a love like no other and peace with God through Jesus. Then a history of His mighty works in your life begins to play in your mind. Rewinding and playing again. All that He has done for you.
The excitement is building in your heart as you draw ever closer to Him in the spirit, you start applauding and thanking Him for He IS worthy.
Yes, you can shout out His beautiful name because all power and glory belong to Him.
And then, His Spirit overshadows you. Warm, liquid love causes a joyfulness to bubble up inside and sometimes you can’t help laughing and yes, perhaps crying at the same time. (Men, nothing to be ashamed of here, because when you are weak in Christ, He is strong in you.)
Just go for it! Don’t look back and regret not giving God your everything. We worship/focus our attention on people, animals, food, American idols and every other kind.
I am going after God with the same zeal and passion that I once pursued worldly things.
So whether I am at church, home, in my car, in a building or at a public event I have purposed in my heart to worship God in Spirit and in Truth with all the focus/energy of ten thousand concert goers. And in collective worship at our church, with all of us lifting our voices together in one accord, I feel the angels joining in with us. Or, actually it’s the other way around, all of Heaven is constantly worshiping the Lord, we are just joining our hearts and voices to an ongoing concert of praise to the King.
You know, years ago I heard a relative of Elvis Presley’s tell about the time a fan approached him and she gushed, “Elvis, you are the KING!” To which Elvis swiftly replied, “No Ma’am, there is only one King and His name is Jesus.” Amen!
I used to, pardon the expression, “raise hell,” but now “I raise a Hallelujah!!!” Because Jesus IS worthy of all of my adoration and praise.
So don’t be shy to give a shout to the “King of kings and the Lord of lords.”
Entering His presence with thanksgiving and praise as befitting a saint saved by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
It’s the least I can do, you see, He saved my life, He is my life and I love Him:)
P.S. Several years ago when I just started studying the Bible in earnest I was flipping through the pages of the book of Psalms. I casually asked the Lord, “Do You have a favorite Psalm?” I heard Him answer in my heart, “100.”
“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.”
(Psalm 100)
(Rev. Chap. 4 and 5, Eph. 2:8, John 4:24, Psalm 107:2-3, Eph. 1:3.)
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com
