Nobody Move!

How is it we can scream and shout and jump up and down with enthusiasm about a sports team…but in our churches and in response to the God of the Universe, we often seem more like a group of exhausted senior citizens, medicated and ineffectual? I just don’t understand. What’s more some locals here laugh and joke about one of the churches that DOES shout, scream, and jump up and down for GOD! Is there a limit to the enthusiasm we should show God?

As I stood in my church on Sunday, I started to get a bit excited that we stepped outside the regular two hymns and three worship songs and actually began to sing a semi-praise song. Then as if I’d been punched in the gut, I realized I was once again a ‘lone-clapper’ and I felt like a hyperactive seven year old and stopped my clapping…returning to the sway-and-slap-my-leg-routine. Somehow it just doesn’t seem enough.

I can begin to imagine how David felt as he welled up so full of the Spirit of God that he had to dance and shout and sing LOUDLY! While I pray to God I don’t EVER dance naked…I do desire to respond to the spirit that moves me. I hate that those around me…my brothers and sisters in Christ are so inhibited by one another that they/WE refuse to respond to something so strong.

What’s even more troubling for me is these are the same people I’ve attended football watching parties with and they can “whoop it up!” But for God…nada.

God has whispered in my ear at least three times of His desire to INFUSE the worship of our little church and I don’t doubt God can do it. It’s just really hard for me to stifle this spirit…this desire within me that wants so badly to express God!

I know my pastor would say… ‘DON’T stifle it! Respond to God as HE calls you! Don’t worry about what’s going on (or not going on) around you!’ I keep my eyes closed and I raise my hands when led to…but this silent worship is really rough for me! My husband isn’t much help. He’s so out of rhythm with his clapping that he could get the whole group sounding like a group of disharmonic seals slapping their sides rather than a unified group worshipping together.

Please pray that I would respond to God’s spirit and never let PEOPLE inhibit this natural flow, the rhythm that so desires to be heard to the heavens.

Have a Tuesday full of perfect harmony and clap…LOUDLY when the spirit leads you.

P.S. My first day on the job went swimmingly! It went SO fast…lots to do, lots to learn, lots of names to learn, lots of opportunity! Praise God for this wonderful blessing!