One year ago I was at my sister's home in Knoxville, working with her on some Christmas decor to sell in her business. When Donna and I get together, it's inevitable that the topic of music will come up. We both love music. God speaks to us often through music. She was telling me about the music program her church choir was working on. Fear Not Tomorrow was the title song. The musical was the brainchild of Ruth Graham, Billy Graham's daughter. First Baptist Concord, Knoxville was doing the premier of it. Donna played the rehearsal CD for me. It was truly an incredible praise to the Father! Fear Not Tomorrow was particularly moving to me. I waited for a year to get a copy of it, and just received it. I am pumped!
I was doing a search for the song, Fear Not Tomorrow, and found a You Tube video of the First Baptist Concord choir singing it at a conference recently. I wanted to share it with you. We need to be reminded that we aren't alone on our journey, and we most certainly do not have to live in fear of the future, because if we are believers God has gone before us, preparing the way. He will watch over us and protect us.
Watch this video and listen to the words. It will encourage you and lift you today.
"Fear not tomorrow, God is already there." How powerful is that!
It's Monday morning. The weekend is over and it's time to face the new week. What will it hold? Will there unexpected blessings come your way? Will there be sorrow, disappointment, change? Life is full of change, some good, some hard. As believers, one thing of which we can be sure, and that is that our God "is able to supply all of our needs, according to His riches in glory." - Phillipians 4:19
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
What reassurance to know that we don't have to figure things out on our own. What peace comes with knowing that no matter what happens, God has our back, if we are walking with Him in accordance with His Word.
I love this song by Chris Tomlin, "Our God." Our praise band at the Glenwood Campus sings it, and when they get to the bridge, I can hardly contain myself. It says:
"And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us? And if our God is with us then who can stand against."
Listen to it and let the words go straight to your heart. Commit them to memory so that you can recollect them when you most need them. Whatever you face this week, remember that Our God is greater! Our God is stronger! Our God is higher than any other! Our God is Healer, awesome in power, our God, our God.
"So I'll stand, with arms high and heart abandoned,
in awe of the one who gave it all.
I'll stand, my soul Lord to you surrender.
All I am is yours." - The Stand, by Hillsong
This picture of these children singing and worshiping God exemplifies pure praise and worship. With precious abandon, they lift their hearts and souls to Him. Notice that a couple of them have hands uplifted, a couple more have hands over their hearts, or eyes closed, tuning out all others. The child in the red has her hands clasped, and the child's face behind her says it all. One thing stands out to me about this picture. They're all IN! They have no worries about what anyone around them is thinking. They are focused solely on their purpose in the moment, and that is to praise God.
This picture is so different from the way I was raised. A pastor's daughter, we were taught to be prim and proper in church. Our white-gloved hands were crossed and laid upon our laps, on our neatly pressed and stiffly starched dresses. Being reserved was equivalent to being godly. Being composed and poised were highly stressed in my very strict, very southern, and very Baptist home.
It's almost peculiar how our environment can so deeply shape us; how our minds so quickly adapt and accept what we are taught. Not that there is anything wrong at all with being ladylike, we most certainly should conduct ourselves like ladies. However, to equate worship with a set of rules and standards negates what true praise and worship is.
A few years ago, I sat down in the sanctuary one Sunday morning. On the screen was a definition of worship. I don't remember exactly what it said, but it went straight to my heart. It was an ah-ha moment for me. Basically, it said that worship isn't about us, but it is all about Jesus. I was reminded of the chorus we had sung,"I'm going back to the heart of worship, and it's all about you, it's all about you Jesus. I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it, when it's all about you, it's all about you."
So many times before, I had felt like raising my hands in worship to the Father, but was afraid of what the people around me would think. I didn't want anybody to think I thought I was anything special or that I think I am some Super-Christian. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart when I read the definition of worship. "Pam, you are being a hypocrite!" A hypocrite? I wondered. "Yes, a hypocrite!" What do you mean, Lord? "You want to raise your hands and heart to me in praise and you don't because you are thinking about what others would think about you. You aren't being real!" Woah! I had never thought of my being reserved in worship in this way before. "Worship isn't about you. It's about me!" He continued. I sank deeper into my chair as I came to a realization that I had been so steeped in tradition, that I couldn't be real before God. I asked God's forgiveness and repented that day, and He released me to be free in my worship.
Does this mean that everyone should raise their hands when they praise God? NO! Praise or worship is what it is. It is an act before God and about God. It's not an emotion. It's not singing a pretty song. It isn't performing a pretty song. It's not a preference or a style. Rather, it is allowing the overflow of our hearts to pour out before Him in adoration, thankfulness, humility, awareness, awe, obedience, and recognition of His almighty power and omnipotence. This can occur during prayer, Bible study, singing, and through the spoken word. It can occur in a worship service, while driving, while alone on a mountaintop, sitting on our back porch, or on our knees by the bed. The where or the how does not matter. It's the attitude of the heart that determines praise and worship.
Oh that we would become free from the preconceived notions about what worship and praise are. If we could only recognize that worship and praise should not be governed by a bunch of do's and don'ts or rules and regulations, we could experience them as these children do.
A young child and her parents were sitting in front of me during service. We were standing and singing. The little girl raised her hands in excitement and innocence. The mother quickly grabbed her arm and pulled it down, shaking her head no-don't do that. My heart was sad as I saw this mother quench the spirit of this innocent child, who was praising God in her way.
The Psalms are full of scripture about praising God. "Praise Him with loud, clanging symbols." "Praise Him with the dance." The Bible teaches us how to praise. King David knew how to praise God. We can learn from him. Paul and Silas knew a thing or two about praise, too.
Pray that God would open your eyes and heart to learn how to praise Him. Pray for freedom from anything or anyone who would hold you back from expressing your love for Him. Learn to tune out others as you praise God. It will deepen your relationship with Him, and He will receive all the glory and praise that He deserves.
The Stand:
The Heart of Worship:
Come back tomorrow and hear from our Health & Wellness Coordinator, Brandy Kisner.
