The Fear of the Lord and the Goodness of God ( Ben Fowler - April 30, 2020)

Spike Lee’s bank-heist thriller 'Inside Man' is one of my favorites. In order to pull it off, the thief hides himself in the bank’s cellar, walking out the front door, spoils in hand, after authorities shut down the investigation. The heist worked because he was able to deceive the detectives with his intellect.

I once heard a seminary professor say that the most important battle being fought in Christianity today, is the battle of ideas. The enemy isn't targeting our bodies but our theology. If he can get us to think wrongly about God, he need not pursue us further. 

The word theology comes from two greek words: theos (God) and logos (word or thought). Basically, our thoughts about God. Just like the 'Inside Man', our enemy has been attempting to hideout in the cellars of our minds, trying to influence our theology. 

One of his tactics is to twist scripture. By doing so, he can distort our understanding of God's character. The enemy isn't targeting our bodies but our theology. Example: If he can get us to think God does not accept and approve of us as we are, we could spend our lives working to gain His approval. But in actuality, we had it all along. He won the battle of ideas and caused a lot of damage in the process.

He has been using this tactic from the beginning. Speaking to Adam and Eve, “Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?” He did this with Jesus, "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written 'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully." And he is trying to do this with us to this very day. 

Let's take, for example, the  phrase ‘the fear of the Lord' used throughout the Old Testament. A phrase like this is any easy target. It can be twisted by the enemy to make us think our relationship with God should be based on fear.

But what does it really mean to 'fear of the Lord'? In order to get a more accurate answer, it's helpful to look at other (easily understood) parts of scripture. By doing so, we can more accurately define the term; interpreting the unclear by the clear. We'll do this by looking at two examples (extremely briefly): The life of Jesus and Psalm 112. 

(These examples will not definitively prove this point but show the process of looking at 'unclear' scripture in light of the rest of the Bible to gain a more accurate theology on a certain subject. In this case: The 'Fear of the Lord' and how it relates to the 'Goodness of God').

Life of Jesus:
Much of scripture reveals God as immeasurably large, terrifyingly powerful, and unapproachably holy. Someone to be feared. But scripture also reveals God as loving, humble, compassionate, and near. This is displayed best in the life of Jesus. 

Jesus, Almighty God in human flesh, showed God's heart for us by becoming a servant, eventually sacrificing Himself in our place, by none other than a crucifixion. Instead of demanding worship, He leaves us awestruck. Hence, we worship Him because we see His goodness not just His strength. Yes, God is holy (other, set apart) but Jesus showed us that He also wants to be near. 

But why should all scripture be interpreted in light of Jesus? The book of Hebrews helps us with this, "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets and in various ways but in these last days, He has spoken to us through His Son." So, if we want to know who God is and how to relate to Him, we must take into account all Jesus said and did because He was God. He is the clearest representation of God and as a rule of logic and common sense, we interpret the unclear with the clear. Jesus clarifies 'why' and 'how' we are to fear him. 

Psalm 112:

If you want to know what it looks like to fear the Lord, read Psalm 112. It’s basically a list of the blessings for and actions of someone who fears the Lord. It is helpful to see the tone of  how it was used in the Old Testament. God has not changed from the times of the OT and neither has it's meaning. 

Like the Pharisees, we wrongly associate the ‘fear of the Lord’ with people who show deep reverence for or adhere to strict worship practices of God. But the psalmist goes in a different direction. He ties the phrase to something less expected; compassion. We read in verse 4 that the man who fears the Lord is “gracious and compassionate.” Again in verse 5, "It is well with the man (who fears the Lord) who is gracious and lends." Finally, in verse 9, “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor.” 

The psalmist is making the connection between someone who fears the Lord and their actions toward the less fortunate. He is reminding us that fearing the Lord doesn’t only mean adherence to stringent worship practices and abstinence from sin, it also means having a heart of compassion. The OT has always taught that the fear of of the Lord is based on God's love and is displayed by those who have been changed by it. 

Conclusion:

The enemy has been waging a war on our theology. Like the 'Inside Man' he tries to hide in the cellars of our minds, whispering lies about the goodness of God. He chooses to hide there because misunderstanding the foundational doctrines of God’s character can send a house toppling down. He does this mainly by twisting scripture and leaving us unclear about God's intentions toward us. But Jesus has helped us clarify God's intentions toward us and now we can interpret the rest of scripture in light of His love. By looking at the Bible as a whole we see, the battle between the 'Fear of the Lord and the Goodness of God' is no battle at all. In fact, we fear him because He has been good all aong. 

“But with You there is forgiveness, that’s why we fear You.” -Ps. 130:4

“Aslan is a lion, the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”  -C.S. Lewis -The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

An Idea:

It's been said that ‘good deeds’ open the door for the ‘good news.’ “When they see your good deeds they will glorify Your Father Who is in heaven.” Now more than ever, this world needs to see the the heart of God on display. It’s our turn to show the world what fearing God is all about. So let's continue to graciously lend to those who have need. Let's continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

A Prayer:

Lord, remind us that fearing You is ultimately about having a heart like yours. This is what happens when we fear You: our reverence results in compassion for those around us. Our desire to be holy gives birth to actions of sacrifice to help those in need. Amen.

"1 Praise the LORD! How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who greatly delights in His commandments. 2 His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, And his righteousness endures forever. 4 Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous. 5 It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgment. 6 For he will never be shaken; The righteous will be remembered forever. 7 He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. 8 His heart is upheld, he will not fear, Until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries. 9 He has given freely to the poor, His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted in honor. 10 The wicked will see it and be vexed, He will gnash his teeth and melt away; The desire of the wicked will perish."                           
                                                                                                                 -Psalm 112

Cussing, Meltdowns, and the Good Stuff (Larissa Marks - April 29, 2020)

Observation, Perspiration or Inspiration: 

For anyone keeping score, we've now reached the point in sheltering-at-home where every single person in our family has had a moment of running out of fuel in the tank, and had a major meltdown. You know what I'm talking about - you've had a rough day, you reach the end of your inner resources, and suddenly one thing trips you up and sends you over the edge into a meltdown.

I won't name names, but from among our family, here are a few examples of the meltdown moments that have happened during the last few weeks of sheltering-at-home:

• Someone got so frustrated while working on a project, they took a large book and threw it, causing a soccer trophy to break in half.
• Someone who had lots of zeal for doing schoolwork at home became completely overwhelmed, and shut down from wanting to do anything productive.
• Someone got mad and kicked a large stool which went flying into the oven and shattered the glass of the oven door.
• Someone has, on more than one occasion, cussed out loud in anger.

Ok, confession: that last one is me. I'm known in our family for using colorful language, which sometimes comes out in front of our kids. Among other words that I won't write on this blog, I've blurted out the word "crap" on more than one occasion. Apparently, this has not gone unnoticed, because other day I overheard our 5-year-old yell, "Oh CRAM," in my exact intonation. Apparently that's what she thinks I've been saying. I won't bother to correct her.

Being sheltered at home together has wonderful moments, but we also can't escape the big feelings of stress and frustration. Many things we would usually do to cope with our stress aren't as available to us right now. We can't just escape out of the house for a few hours, or release stress by going to the gym. So tensions run higher, people have a shorter fuse, and yes, maybe we all have more meltdowns. More fights, more tears, more shutting down.

Depending on your personality, you may react to stress by withdrawing and disengaging, having an emotional outburst, or becoming paralyzed. We've seen all of the above in our family recently.

However challenging the heightened stress and increased meltdowns are right now, I also believe that in the midst of at all, our family is also receiving good things from God and each other.

One good thing is we're giving and receiving forgiveness and grace. From our kids' earliest years, we have taught them how to ask for forgiveness and offer it to each other. This is a common interaction within our family relationships - someone messes up, they acknowledge and own how they messed up, they ask for forgiveness from whomever they offended, and forgiveness is offered. Maybe a hug and laugh are exchanged. After the inevitable conflicts and mess ups, we reconcile and end up with deeper relationships with each other. We treat each day as a fresh start with each other, with no grudges held.

Another good thing is we're learning how to gauge our tanks. Think of a car's gas tank. On a regular basis, you need to fill your car's tank. If you let it get into the low/empty range, your car is on the verge of a shutdown. The same goes for us, we each have a tank that needs refueling in order to keep going. Our constantly shifting attitudes and feelings are very much connected to how much fuel is in our tank. You know your tank is full because you are rested, energized, and have a lot to pour into others. On the flipside, you know your tank is running low when your energy is diminished, your inner reserves of peace and joy are depleted, and you don't have much to give. I've learned how necessary it is right now to pay attention and gauge my own tank these days. When my tank is low, there is an opportunity to take my needs seriously, and do something to refuel. Or I can keep going without refueling, get depleted, and probably experience burnout. For the sake of my well-being and my relationships with others, I'd rather do the latter.

And finally, we're learning how to refuel. Each person in our family has different things that recharge and refuel them. For me, it's often writing, focusing on accomplishing a few purposeful things, and talking with my husband. The other members of my family have their own unique methods of refueling. One of my more introverted children needs time to be alone, read, and listen to music. Another one of my children needs physical touch like hugs, and freedom to verbally express feelings. We're trying to honor each person's individual needs, help our kids discern what they need, and give permission to do those things each day.

If you notice your tank running low, perhaps there is an opportunity for you to experience some of these good things as well. Give and receive forgiveness and grace to yourself and others. Pay attention to your tank. Learn how to refuel. Give yourself permission to do those things. 

God has some good things for us right now, friends. Yes, even in the midst of your meltdown moments.

Prayer:

Lord, we welcome you into our lives. We welcome you into our homes. We welcome you into the nooks and crannies of our day. We invite you into the beautiful moments as well as the ugly moments. Thank you for the good things you're giving us. Thank you for being a Father of forgiveness and grace. Thank you for never leaving us to fend for ourselves. You are the source of all that we need. Help us to come to you with our needs, and trust that what you are giving us is good. Thank you, God. Amen.

An Idea:

Use a simple 0-10 scale to gauge how full your tank is today (this works well with all ages). What do you need to refuel? Consider doing this with your spouse or family or Ohana Group. Have each person share what number their tank is at. Then discuss what each of you personally needs to fill your tank. Help each other take those needs seriously, and find ways to meet those needs this week.

Are New Doors and Pathways Opening for You? (Brenda Wong - April 24, 2020)

Are New Doors and Pathways Opening for You?

I was thankful that our household would finally have a meal together. The food was looking and smelling great, but one of my roommates was on an important phone call. We ate without her and it was enjoyable but deep down inside I was so disappointed. Afterwards, she apologized and we had a good talk together.
What was happening inside of me? Why was I so disappointed? Later on that night, I realized that my deep craving for ‘ohana (family) time was not met for me in my house. It’s great to connect on computer or phone but it’s just not the same as simply hanging out with close friends for hours. God was merciful to help me survive and even thrive the first weeks of staying home but this next week seemed long as I saw lots of free time. The extrovert in me can have meaningful spiritual formation work, be active in church ministry, connect with friends with technology, take daily walks, and still have countless hours left each day, not just to scroll on social media or watch television.

This seems so insignificant in comparison to so many bigger tragedies around us. I grieve with friends who have lost loved ones. I grieve for those who are dying alone with COVID-19, especially health care worker and first responders who gave their lives to serve others. I grieve to know that Blacks and Natives like the Navajo nation experience a disproportionate amount of death and suffering. I grieve for those who are experiencing abuse at home. I grieve for those who have lost jobs and to know that the unemployment rate has gone from 3% to 37% in Hawai`i.

God’s invitation is not only for me to join him in the suffering around me, he is also inviting me to explore on a deeper level my personal disappointments and losses.

What’s happening for you as we are see that this is no longer a sprint but is more like a marathon? What’s happening when you decide not to numb your deeper feelings with entertainment, social media, food or other substances, social interaction and work?

As friends have prayed in this season, they received pictures of a cocoon and greenhouse. That really resonated with me as God is showing me that this is an rare opportunity to allow him to cleanse us deeply so that he can fill us with more with his presence. You might be experiencing personal losses, social isolation or feel overwhelmed with all that is needed during this pandemic. This time can be an opportunity to cultivate newness. When this is over, will we be more of who God is inviting us to be?

Deep growth in this season happens as we are honest about our disappointments and losses even if others have it much worst. God invites us to take a deeper look within ourselves, doing far more than just having us declutter our rooms or houses. God’s spirit will help us declutter our souls and spirits so he can dwell more deeply.

As I was willing to face deeper loneliness, God reveal to me more areas of my life that he wanted to heal. He also showed me that I depend too much on my outer world including people to fill me and bring me joy. What new joy does the Lord want to give me when I can’t go out and hang with close friends? How is he wanting to remake me? How is he making scripture come alive in my life? What about worshipping with the ukulele or guitar? Are there books that I have neglected that would be good for my soul? Is he inviting me to change the physical spaces of my life so that he can be more present? God’s putting it on my heart to pray more for my neighborhood and seek purposeful relationships with neighbors. Will I use this time wisely and be different when it’s over? Will people be transformed by God because of me?

Psalms 46:10 says “Be still and know that I am God”. Isaiah 55:8 says “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Isaiah 43:19 says “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway though the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”

What doors are closed to you now? How might God be creating something new in you?

Prayer:
Thank you Lord that you want to fill us in deeper ways and expand what it means to know you. Thank you that by your spirit you will show us new pathways and open doors. Thank you that you are bringing deeper healing and cleansing in our lives and exposing dark areas that you want to fill with light!

"We've All Been Exposed" a poem by Sarah Bourns

We’ve all been exposed.
Not necessarily to the virus
(maybe…who even knows).
We’ve all been exposed BY the virus.

Corona is exposing us.
Exposing our weak sides.
Exposing our dark sides.
Exposing what normally lays far beneath the surface of our souls,
hidden by the invisible masks we wear.
Now exposed by the paper masks we can’t hide far enough behind, Corona is exposing our addiction to comfort.
Our obsession with control.
Our compulsion to hoard.
Our protection of self.

Corona is peeling back our layers.
Tearing down our walls.
R​e​vealing our illusions.
Leveling our best-laid plans.

Corona is exposing the gods we worship:
Our health
Our hurry
Our sense of security.
Our favorite lies
Our secret lusts
Our misplaced trust.

Corona is calling everything into question:
What is the church without a building?
What is my worth without an income?
How do we plan without certainty?
How do we love despite risk?
Become A Contributor

Corona is exposing me.
My mindless numbing
My endless scrolling
My careless words
My fragile nerves.

We’ve all been exposed.
Our junk laid bare.
Our fears made known.
The band-aid torn.
The masquerade done.

So what now? What’s left?
Clean hands
Clear eyes
Tender hearts.

What Corona reveals, God can heal.

Come, Lord Jesus.
Have mercy on us.

The Space You're Gonna Need (Sonya Seng, April 20,2020)

Observation, Perspiration or Inspiration: 

Well I gotta tell you.  Yesterday I was such a basket case that today my home looks like a Good Housekeeping cover shot. That’s just how I roll. So I want to tell you exactly how this went down. This is partly confession and partly self-talk.  And I’m sharing because maybe, like me, you have time now to order your past and make room for the future. 

It started a week ago when I discovered that GarageBand on my iPad was glitching, preventing me from recording a new song I’m working on. I’d have to dump and reinstall the program. But first I’d need to back up my song files to my laptop. Unfortunately, my laptop storage space was maxing out, recently giving me the dreaded warning message that files couldn’t be saved. 

Delay was no longer possible.  In order to create new things, I was going to have to truly roll up my digital sleeves and Kondo-Mari about 80 gigs from decades of my life. 

I’d have to painstakingly preserve irreplaceable system files and treasured documents while decisively trashing other files that were duplicates, obsolete or just irrelevant now to my life. I only have so much disk space. 

Pre-Covid, it might have taken a month to do this, but in This New American Life, I managed to crawl my way through it in about 6 days including some all nightery. Again, it’s how I roll.  Anal retentive.

Thankfully, I had a new 2TB external drive sitting on my shelf for a year waiting for this moment. Because, hey, I’ve known it was coming for a long time. So, I opened the box and purposed to set it up with simplicity and clear reason – and to keep it straightforward this time. 

I won’t bore you with all the details, but I created multiple Google Backup and Sync files, made a bootable system disk, cleaned out my cache files using a programming file called Applejack. I went deep, folks. 

Now, the last 3 days things got really heavy. I had to face the family movie files. They were a half-mess. The worst kind. Where you started cleaning them up 6 years ago but didn’t finish and now you’ve forgotten what was done and what wasn’t.  And why won’t a quarter of the files of your one and three year old babies play now?!  And can you Google a repair fix? But wait, here’s another folder where all those files work plus there are additional movies in formats you don’t understand. 

Are you crying yet? I ate a lot of leftover Easter chocolate late that night. 

But here’s the unexpected punch. 

When you (meaning me) sort through memories, the save and delete buttons are sticky. They don’t “click”. They take a chunk out of you, or fill you up in a heart-breaking way. 

The little head that leaves his train table and bumbles right into the camera saying “Mama, I wuv you.” The church friends who came over to help when Jordan traveled overseas; the same ones who launched Bluewater with you, who you taught to pray. You hear the words of people who left you, some with tears and some with a knife edge.  You see Grandma Norma coming home with you from California; the same summer you visited your old house in Gloucester along the salt marsh. The last birthday dinner at Kaimana Beach with your emaciated dad, struggling to breathe, a year before he died. 

And you. Your voice was higher, fresher. You hear yourself trying so hard to be a great mom, to make your family happy while inwardly numbed with boredom and weariness. 

ALL. THAT. LIFE. Rushes on you like it was yesterday. 

But most of these files are 10-20 years old. 

So you click the computer folders: move this, delete that. 

And your heart is trying hard to follow the folder hierarchy, do the math – but it’s not its forte. 

So the next morning you wake up crying  – why? 

Because life seems to have cost so darn much. 

Because it’s obvious how long you were utterly overextended. 

Because you didn’t or couldn’t stop the many failures. 

Because your children are taller than you now and aren’t SO interested in your stories or hugs. 

And when you look at your final historical compilation: 100 gigabytes stored in a 3” box, plus 5 Youtube links, the doubt nags at you. 

Does anyone care? Do you matter in the universe?  

And do you have enough in you to live another 100 gigabytes?  

You seriously doubt it. But, lucky you, longevity is in your genes.   

You need to stay dark for a while. Everyone stays out of your way while you clean the house. Mumbling desperate, incoherent prayers as you go.  

You do the laundry, water the plants and straighten the rug. 

You change the patio furniture, take a shower and put on makeup. 

You have a shot of Jack Daniels. 

And the Holy Spirit is drinking with you. 

“As often as you take this cup, remember Me”, Jesus said. 

In the Bible, when James and John’s Tiger Mom asked Jesus to let her boys sit as His right and left, He said, “Can they drink the cup I’m going to drink?” They answered confidently, “We can!”  And Jesus, says, “You’ll drink it indeed but you don’t know what it means boys.” 

I too was so confident once. Bottoms up, Lord! But in my 5th decade, I’m not so quick to answer. This cup of life has been a lot. And frankly, it’s left me teetering.  Forced to pause, to fully render each graphic frame, I now hear myself cry:, “Too much, Lord! I’m out of my depth. And I’m ashamed that I can’t hold it all. Can’t touch bottom here. I am so small."

 And then I realize, perhaps I’ve finally come to the right place. Humility.

He says, “Good. Now let it go. And follow Me.” 

“Empty Trash”. 

There’s that satisfying sound in my spirit as the burdens drop off the drive, file by file. I start to feel the space around me return. And memory becomes usable again.

And now? Well, I think I'm getting space to record that new song.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus. 

You have drunk the cup of life and of death. 

Be with us as we drink and it churns within us. 

You have given many of us the most valuable resource of Time right now. 

So make us brave to take the days in and let the days go. 

The ones this week, and the ones from decades ago. 

Make us brave to walk with you through the deep files of our hearts. 

Make us patient to taste our humiliations, and also our hopes. 

Because you see fruitful days ahead. You hear the songs in queue to be written. 

Lord, save us from ourselves, from unwillingness to change. 

We permit You to do the gut-wrenching but gracious work in us today that will make the best tomorrows possible. 

Amen.

An Idea:

This week, ask God to show you if there's an issue that's taking an inordinate amount of "memory" in your soul. Talk with Him about it in detail and invite him to show you what parts of it to keep and which parts you can trash from your memory. Ask Him to show you something new that is waiting for you. 

What to Do While You're Waiting (Larissa Marks - April 20, 2020)

Observation, Perspiration or Inspiration:

In this season I feel like I’m doing a lot of waiting. I’m waiting to hear updates and news that seem to change every few days. I’m waiting for announcements from schools and work about new policies or “we’re now closed until....” memos. I’m waiting to make any meaningful plans because no one seems to know the longer term anything these days. It’s a strange limbo we’re in right now, when most of the scaffolding of our lives has been dismantled.

For many of us, waiting feels uncomfortable and disorienting. I want plans! I like plans. Plans give a sense of security and safety. Who wants to be waiting? Waiting is that strange time at the airport gate, when we’re meandering around with a group of strangers, listening for the comforting voice to announce that it’s finally time to board the plane.

But here we are. Waiting. Pausing. While we’re here in The Long Wait, what do we do? I have a few ideas from past experiences of waiting. I know from my 20-ish years of following Jesus that there are a few good things to do while I wait. Here they are:

Connect with God. Find ways in this season to make space for God and engage with him. Worship, pray, do the Examen, practice the Sabbath. I created some free prayer guides and spiritual formation resources, which you can find here. Try a new way of relating to God this week.

Connect with people (including yourself). Take care of others. Cultivate deeper relationships with people. Shepherd the people who you need to care for. Invest in your relationships with your spouse, your kids, your parents, the people in your faith community. And take care of yourself. Do the daily things that restore your mind, body, and soul - sleep, eat nutritious meals, exercise, make art, take a long shower, turn on music and dance in your living room, tend to your garden, all that good stuff that we sometimes take for granted.

Discern what is most important to you. In times of stripping and dismantling, we’re given new space to dream and design. Think of a big kitchen renovation or even a complete rebuild of a house - you have the freedom to create something amazing! Now is the time to ask the big questions - What is your God-given calling? How are you building your life around what is most important? What are the key roles and relationships that you need to give your best attention to? Figure out what is most important to you, put those things into place, and allow that to be the new scaffolding of your life.

Those are a few things I’m doing during this time of waiting. They are simple, and maybe that's the point. In waiting, we simply must do the right next thing. It isn't complicated. Just do the essential things. I invite you to do these things along with me.

We don’t need to be passive as we wait. We can grow, flourish, and bring forth new life.

Prayer:

Lord, be with us as we wait. Help us be attentive to you as we wait. Bring to new life the things that have been dormant or buried. Do the good, deep stuff in us that only you can do. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

An Idea:

Develop a rhythm for life for this week that creates daily space to connect with God, connect with others, and do what's important. What is one way you can connect with God? One way you can connect with others? One way to live out your God-given calling? Do those things daily. For more on creating a Rhythm For Life, here's a simple guide.

Please share in the comments below - what good things are you doing in this season of waiting? What are you wanting from God during this time?

No One Watching But One (Elijah Yip - April 17, 2020)

Photo by Kyle Johnson on Unsplash

Observation, Perspiration or Inspiration: 

Last Sunday, I watched a webcast of the Easter service of a well-known church. This church’s video content is known for high production values, and the video of this particular service was no exception.  One thing was missing though.  There were no shots of the audience because there was none, at least not physically in the room.  My wife remarked that it must be tough to lead worship in an environment like that.

A few days later, my wife and I were watching a video of the Easter service of another church where one of my favorite worship artists leads worship.  My wife, ever the astute one, said after a few minutes into the video: “You know what’s amazing?  The guy is worshiping exactly like he does all the time.  You can feel the Spirit on him.  It’s like he doesn’t even notice that no one’s in the audience.”  She was right.

That little exchange made me think of what it means to really worship God.  Is my worship an emotional reaction to my surroundings?  The crowd, the sounds, the rush of joining in a common cry—is that what stirs up worshipfulness in me?  I don’t deny some of those elements help nudge me into a posture of worship, but what happens when they’re gone?  Do I still worship with abandon to the audience of One?

The quarantine is forcing us to confront these questions.  I still want to stay close to God, but I’m having to reach deeper to do it.  That’s not a bad thing.  It’s making me go back to the foundations of my relationship with God.  Isn’t that what this season about?  Sorting out the shakable and unshakable things.  Holding on to what endures.

Worship leader Matt Redman (author of songs like 10,000 Reasons and Blessed Be Your Name) went through a dry spiritual season with his church even while its worship band was rapidly growing in impact on churches worldwide.  His pastor took a step back, cut out the worship band and musical instruments, and asked the congregation, “When you come through the doors on a Sunday, what are you bringing as your offering to God?”  Out of that season, Redman penned the song Heart of Worship.  Here are a few lines from the song:

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart
I'll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming 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, Jesus

What are you bringing as your offering to God in this season?

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for this time of returning to the roots of my relationship with you.  Help me focus on what truly blesses your heart.  Draw me close as I draw close to you.   In Jesus’ name, Amen.

An Idea:

Take five minutes and ask God, “What makes you happy?”  Don’t think too hard about it.  Just listen.  Write down what you heard (in your journal if you have one).  If God gave you a specific action step, go do it.  Bam!  You just practiced obedience, which is a form of loving God.  John 14:21.  It’s that simple.