Recharging Our Worship - Psalm 100
Written by: Carrae Gibbons, Atlanta, GA
What does our worship say about our relationship with God? Have you become so overwhelmed with your thoughts and your circumstances that your worship is suffering? Have you become complacent with mediocre worship? It may be time for a re-charge, a heart transformation. Life can sometimes silence our praise, but David has a motivational docking station to recharge our worship battery!
Worship the Lord with Gladness. Have you ever been filled with pure joy at the thought of seeing someone? Maybe a parent who has been away for work, a grandparent who lives in another state, a childhood friend, or a traveling spouse? Whoever comes to mind, I am sure that it was considered a time of celebration when you were in their presence once again. Have you ever anticipated the arrival of someone with so much gratitude for the moment, for the opportunity, for the exchange that you just could not contain it? You prepare for those moments with expectations and intentionality. As you prepare, you take extra steps to make sure that moment is special, considering every detail, reflecting on the last encounter as your heart longs for the next encounter. Have you ever been so excited that you vocalized it before you could even try to contain it? You tell everybody about it, you sing, you may even let out a shout of enthusiasm.
Now, imagine that the anticipated encounter is not met with the same love, energy, and intensity. Imagine that the person for whom you’ve been eagerly waiting is uninterested, unwelcoming, or seems to be acting out of obligation.
It saddens me to think that God could ever feel like the worship that we offer is not from a place of pure joy and thanksgiving. It hurts to think that our countenance towards God could waver based on circumstances, bad moods, and discontentment. However, this is too often the case. To be honest, our personal and corporate worship is often sub-par, lackluster, and contingent upon our ability to truly connect to God.
A Call to Praise and Worship. In Psalms 100, David issues a call to praise and worship in five short verses. These verses should compel us to re-evaluate our spiritual posture and efforts towards God. Let’s consider our worship as the biggest thank-you note to God. Afterall, it is through worship that we acknowledge who He is, declare our dependence on Him, and express our gratitude. Why? Because He is good and we are his people!
In verse 1, David starts with a directive for physical expression: “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all ye lands.” This is all-inclusive. No one is exempt from the verbalization of thanksgiving. We teach our children to say thank you, to say I love you, and to cheer for a win. We expect spouses, friends, and family to compliment us, to vocalize their gratitude, and to greet us with pleasantries. Why then, do we deprive God? God - who created the world, continues to provide all that we need, and sent His son to reconcile us to Him? Do we attach our worship to our comfort or lack thereof? Some say, “I am an introvert'', some say, “I just don’t think that all that is necessary”, and others worship, but at their own discretion. In Verse 2, we are instructed to “Serve the Lord with gladness and to come before Him with singing.” Again, we receive the directive of physical expression - through song and service - with an attitude that exudes joy. Our attitude towards God cannot be circumstantial. We can not pick and choose whether we worship the Lord with gladness. Again, this instruction is all inclusive: It is for everybody; all of the time.
Acknowledge who He is and who we are to Him. In verse 3, David said, “Know that He is God”. This requires an understanding and an acceptance of God’s divine role in our lives. He goes on to say that “we are His people.” It feels good to belong to God. When God calls us His people, He is taking responsibility to provide for and protect us. Consider your personal relationships: this is my husband, this is my child, this is my friend. When I say these things, I have placed value, priority, and energy into sustaining these relationships. I willingly sacrifice, make effort, and acknowledge their significance in my life. So, what does it mean when we say, “He is my God and I belong to Him”? Does this declaration ignite fear, grief, or sadness? Does this burden you? Absolutely not! We should find the purest form of joy in just the mention of His name. I am blessed to be His. I am honored to be His. With pride and enthusiasm, I will declare that He is God and I belong to Him.
Thanksgiving. For some of us in America, when we hear the word Thanksgiving, it often resonates the most in our stomachs. We think of a holiday time in which we gather with our loved ones around a feast fit for kings and queens. Maybe it triggers a memory of how those gatherings made us feel loved. Maybe it triggers a joyful tear as we reflect on how blessed we are. Maybe it prompts a brief pause to reflect on how far we have come.
What if - what if the mere thought of His love, His presence, His deliverance triggered a praise break every time we enter His courts? What if we disconnected from all the interruptions, day-to-day obstacles, and frustrations of life, and just worshiped Him, without any distractions and disappointments weighing us down? When was the last time you prepared your mind for an intentional encounter with God? If it has been a while, take the time today to reflect on who He is in your life.
Don’t be a disgruntled Christian. Everyone can think of that person who is never satisfied, always complaining, and looking for the bottom to fall out at any moment. I am sure that you have encountered the disgruntled employee or angry customer who is self-absorbed and filled with negativity. The funny thing is, they still show up. They show up with all that entitlement and bad energy and present it as though it's acceptable. Is it possible that they don’t even realize how their attitude affects everyone else? Service with the wrong attitude is bad service. Acceptance of a gift without a thank you whispers ungrateful. The same applies to our worship and praise. Is it possible that, as Christians, we think that showing up is enough? Worship without the proper attitude, without a thankful heart, or without acknowledgement of who God is, is not pleasing to Him.
How can we worship the Lord with gladness? I challenge us all to open our mouths and let praise escape our lips - in total adoration of God - in all things, all situations, and all circumstances. Make an adjustment today. Don’t wait. Pray today, that your worship is pleasing to Him. Meditate on His Word. And finally, rest on the promise found in verse 5, “For the Lord God is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”
There is no uncertainty about His commitment to us. You can count on Him. He has always been there, and He will always be there.
How long will He keep His word? Forever!
How long will He call you His? Forever!
How long will He love you? Forever!
Aren’t you glad about it? So, let us worship the Lord with gladness!