Kingdom Calling Blog…

I don’t know about you but I have always loved to dance! I enjoy music of many genres and love to move!

I was at church this morning enjoying the worship, which was really upbeat and joyful. I was listening and felt really stirred to dance exuberantly but I felt that people would wonder what was going on if I really went for it, which is what I wanted to do! In my head during worship I often see myself dancing and being completely free to worship as I want to, but so often I worry what people will think of me.

During worship this morning God reminded me of King David as he danced before God and the scripture..

2 Sam 6:14 He was dancing before the Lord with all his strength. And he was wearing a linen vest. ¹⁵ So David and all those of the family of Israel were bringing the special box of the Lord with a loud voice and the sound of the horn. ¹⁶ As the special box of the Lord came into the city of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked out of the window. She saw King David jumping and dancing before the Lord, and she hated him in her heart.

Now I don’t for one minute think God wants me to dance around in a vest (at least I hope not!) but He was reminding me that David danced with ALL his might before the Lord even though there was a personal cost to him, loooking foolish in front of others).

Have you ever felt this way?

You want to be truly yourself in worship but are holding back? Have you ever thought why that might be?

It got me thinking about why I was holding back and these thoughts came to mind….

1. What would other people, including the leaders think of me? (fear of man)
2. But no-one else is doing it like this! (comparison)

 

Then I started thinking about why we worship in the first place and who it’s for. I do believe that worship is a lifestyle and not just a Sunday thing. It’s part of everything we do and worship can look different at different points in our day. It might look like singing, painting, writing, standing still and silent, arms raised, singing in tongues or dancing, amongst others.

We worship because of who God is and what He has done for us. He is so amazing and sent His only son Jesus to die for our sins so that we could live in a restored relationship with our dad in heaven. We worship because He is good and His nature is unchanging. He has always been good and will always be good. So in summary our worship is simply a response to who He is.

Psa 86:9-10 All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. 10 For you are great and do marvellous deeds; you alone are God.

So, if I am there to give praise and worship God on Sunday because I love Him and He’s worth all the praise I can give, why I am holding back?

Fear of man (what others think)

Does it really matter what other people think?

In a word-NO!

Worship is about our relationship with God and if people want to look on and make a judgement about us that is really not our problem, but there’s. People can get offended so easily when they see people doing things differently to them and perhaps it challenges them and the way they like to worship. But, we are all created unique and individual so it really shouldn’t matter. Other times I think people look on and wish that they could join in and be free but they haven’t reached that point yet where they feel comfortable with it.

Being confident about your identity in Christ means not trying to please man but to please God and being so comfortable with this that the thoughts of man are like water off a duck’s back.

Comparison

This is one of the biggest obstacles in life in general, looking at other people and comparing yourself is a killer. As a Christian it can stop you living out the adventure that God has planned for you and stepping into all that He has for you. The beauty of His creation is that we are all unique with our own mix of abilities and gifts. He made it this way, it was His idea. If we don’t use the gifts and abilities we have been given because we are trying to live like or copy someone else, then no-one else can do our part for us. There would literally be a gap in the ‘body’ that can only be filled by YOU!

So here’s the plan, I am going to choose courage and go for it. I am also going to get near to people who feel the same way as me so they can be ‘courage buddies’. If you see me at church and wonder what’s going on, stop wondering and come and join me!

I am going to dance like no-one is watching and if I look like a fool then I am a fool for God!