Sometimes we go to worship with the church on Sunday with heavy hearts and serious trials.
We may think it’s unrealistic to try to sing songs of joyful praise with any sincerity.
But there’s no better way to get up than to look up, surrounded by God’s people, singing about God’s truths, being reminded of God’s love.
When we’re discouraged, we need reminding that Father loves us enough to use everything possible to make us more like Jesus. He can use troubles and heartaches in that process as much as he can use joys and blessings.
These thoughts from Bob Kaulfin in his book Worship Matters help me understand the value of singing through sorrows.
We’ll never overcome self-centeredness, self-exaltation, or self-pity by staying focused on ourselves. That only exacerbates the problem. We’re still the center of attention!
But when we gather to worship God, he’s the center of attention. And the more [we’re] encouraged that God is already working in us (Philippians 2:13), the more easily [we’ll] remember.
May we revel in our opportunities in our various churches this morning to focus on the Lord as the center of our attention.
He deserves to be there!
4 comments:
Well, since you had to sit next to me this morning, I'm sure I don't need to tell you that I needed to hear this post! I am always thankful for times of singing - it does help me focus on God no matter how far off I may be when I walked in the door - thanks for sharing this. :)
I need to go back and re-sing all those songs we sang this morning. :-) It was the best moments of my day when I was thinking more about Him and less about me...
You are so right, Lisa. I've been saved a lot of years, but I'm only this year learning how to sing through my sorrow. It's the sacrifice of praise that blesses God because I believe He knows what it costs us to sing in the midst of pain.
Sometimes our worship is a "sacrifice of praise." I remember during one particularly heartbreaking season I was riding in the van with Third Day's song "Head held high with my hands to the sky" or something like that. I remember realizing that my God was trustworthy. He is good. He is sovereign. I can praise Him--in the joy, in the sorrow and everything in between. He knows the plans He has for me and He will work them out for His glory. His glory! That is my ultimate desire!
Keep praising Him, sister. Yes when it's easy; especially when it's hard. Praying for you...
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