By Brenda Groves
The Post Newspaper Contributing Writer
Growing up in the late seventies and early eighties I attended a few rock concerts in “my day.”
I remember how my friends and I counted down the days until “THE” day arrived, bringing with it our favorite bands.
Toxic fumes from cans of hairspray filled my parent’s home. We would have upteen different outfit changes (probably more than the band), before settling on the first one we tried on.
All the way to Houston, we would fight each other 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. Walking in with hundreds and hundreds of people all coming together with one theme in mind: PARTY!!!
Suddenly, they would dim the lights. The crowd roared, clapped and whistled. You could see dark figures stroll across the stage and take up their instruments.
PEOPLE WOULD GO NUTS!!!!
Everyone is on their 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 hadn’t even played a lick of music yet. We kept this level of excitement for the next few hours, even carrying it home with us.
Sporting 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 ‘EM” “GET EM” “THROW IT!” “CATCH IT!” “PASS IT! “RUN!!” without much thought about what anyone else thought of me.
But when it comes to worshipping God, I believe my religious upbringing somewhat stiffens me. I mean we could be laughing and talking amongst ourselves before the church services began, but then it seemed suddenly we stopped smiling and we put on a solemn, serious expression.
The “contemplating of our sins” face appeared. And even in what we called praise and worship, there was very little emotion attached, except maybe sadness, regret, and deep turmoil. Now, there are times when we need to stop and take note of where our life is going and if there’s any changes that need to be made.
I understand we should respect the Lord, but, “the joy of the Lord is my strength,” not the agony that He bore for me.
One morning several years ago, I was reading through Psalms when I asked the Lord, “What is Your favorite Psalm?” I heard the Holy Spirit say,” Psalm 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.”
(Now, I’m not suggesting that we just lose control all together, that is not the Holy Spirit, one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is “self control.” Gal. 5:22-23).
But after all we HAVE BEEN REDEEMED, and WE ARE NOW JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST, and WE’RE NOT GOING TO HELL, and GOD LOVES US UNCONDITIONALLY, and WE HAVE RECEIVED GOD’S GRACE AND MERCY, and WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN CHRIST JESUS, and WE ARE IN AN UNBREAKABLE COVENANT WITH THE ONLY TRUE LIVING GOD, so isn’t all that worth more than just a solemn Hallelujah under our breath every once in a while?
So whether at church, home or wherever you are, break with tradition and enjoy fellowship with Him. Close your eyes and imagine you are waiting for Jesus to appear in your presence. He loves you. He died for you. He rose for you. He lives in you. He is pleased with you. And you’re about to be in His awesome presence.
“He will rejoice over you with gladness … He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zep. 3:17
Imagine a heavenly thickness in the air around you. The instruments are warming up. You recall the first time you met. Then a history of answered prayers begins to play in your mind. Rewinding and playing again. The excitement is building in your heart as you draw ever closer to Him and you start clapping your hands and thanking Him for He IS worthy.
You can shout out His beautiful name because there is power when you believe in the name of Jesus as His sweet Holy Spirit covers you like a warm blanket. His love causes a joyfulness to bubble up inside and you can’t help laughing and yes, perhaps crying at the same time.
Just go for it! Don’t look back and regret not giving God your everything, every time.
I am going after God with the same zeal and passion that I once pursued worldly things and people, so whether I am at home, in my car, in a building or at a public event, I have purposed in my heart to worship God with all the focus and energy of 10,000 concert goers.
Entering His presence with thanksgiving and praise is befitting a grateful born again child of the only true living God, His beloved.
“Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the Lord on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals. … then David … with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.”
(2 Samuel 6: 5, 14,15).
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com
