I’m a worshipper. I worship. In the traditional sense, I mean. I understand that I am worshipping anytime I go out and advertise for the Orthodontics office I work for or even when I am washing the dishes at home… however, my heart beats to musically worship my Father.
I was in my church once when Israel Houghton came, as a guest speaker, to discuss Worship with our congregation. Man was it sweet! I learned so much that day about what true worship could mean for my life and how to use it in my every thought and action.
Israel told us a story of how he got started as a musician. He would literally set up the salt and pepper shakers in his kitchen as his “audience” and sing sweet music to Jesus asking all the condiments to “join in” and “sing along.”
He had an instrument. He had his voice. He had some salt… And he had a humble heart.
He wasn’t afraid to line up inanimate objects and pretend it was his responsibility to show them how to worship.
He laid his pride down and USED WHAT WAS IN HIS HAND.
He told himself… “I may not have a crowd of people waiting on me to lead them into the Presence of God, but I do know that I MUST worship my God with EVERYTHING I HAVE! It’s not much, but it’s what I’ve got right now and I’m gonna use it!”
How deep could you, could I, go in our walks with the Lord if we actually used what is in our hands right now?
Too often I see myself and others get fearful at the thought of doing silly things like this. We think, “I can’t do that-it’s weird… what good is it going to do to sing to an orange or worship with some salt and pepper shakers? God won’t respond to that!”
We refuse to be “unconventional” and child-like… even in our alone-time with God… the time we can be most vulnerable and real with Him.
I think this “adult” way of thinking disappoints Jesus.
Sometimes He looks at our lunch of five loaves and two fish (already knowing all the lives that it could change if we used them) and sees that we DO NOT BELIEVE He can do something GREAT with our something small… (see John 6).
He sees so much you and I could do if we SIMPLY BELIEVED that what is in our hands is ENOUGH to do exactly what He has required.
What I learned the day Israel came to speak to us… changed my heart on Worship forever.
I CAN play my broken guitar and sing out as loud as I want to-just to Praise Him! It doesn’t matter if I am doing this in the mirror or in front of my audience of palm trees outside… IT IS ENOUGH TO HIM.
And once Jesus sees I have mastered the belief I need in Him to bring the Presence of God into my bedroom, my backyard, my “kitchen”… maybe then He will trust me with a few of my friends.
If you learn nothing else, please hear this.
What you have in your hand, right now, could change the world. BUT you must not be AFRAID TO USE IT.
Steps of God… even small ones… ALWAYS REQUIRE FAITH AND ACTION!
I do not care if you think that you have no money, no time, and no resources … EVERYONE has something to offer the Lord even if it is just offering your smiling face to those around you.
USE IT and Watch God enlarge your borders. (1 Chron 4:10).
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