I’ve decided that I want you, the reader, to know the train of thought that occurred when the idea for this blog came upon me like a mighty, rushing wind. That and I couldn’t think of any other cheeky way to flow into the point of everything. So I ask of you to please pause, pray, and take 5-7 minutes to read through the words that God has put upon my heart.

(Oh and I think it’s a good thing to do the preceding with most things of a spiritual nature you read because many times, especially in the Lighthouse Collective realm, these blogs are meant to be a method of encouragement and of worship, for us as a collective, so again, pause, pray, and read. Oh & enjoy!)

Now to the thick of things! I was driving the other day, listening to some beautiful songs of praise to God pouring forth from a humble man whose musical gifts are amazing, and even that description does not fully do justice to the mighty work God does through Phil Wickham.

Anywho, I was thinking about the next opportunity I have to speak publicly like in a church-esque setting, and like most times when this topic matter arises within the confines of my skull, I begin to think of what exactly I would say. So I got to the part where my message would end and I would call up the worship leader and I would encourage others to worship freely, you know the whole feel “free to sit, kneel, raise your hands” spiel.

I began to think of the times in a musical worship setting where I haven’t worshiped freely, where I’ve held back because I took my focus off of God and allowed it to be ensnared by the thoughts of those around me. My thoughts become sidetracked with things like, “I wonder what others would think if I just danced or fell on my face. Would they think I’m being showy, drawing attention to myself; would I be a distraction or an encouragement to others?” I even get attacked with the thought of “You are doing this for attention; you aren’t doing this because you want to praise and glorify God; you are doing this for YOU!”

Let me tell you what I’ve learned; those thoughts stink and they are not true. I know that my desire in those moments and with my whole life is to sing out praise and glorify God with all that I am. When those moments of attack come I think of the following passage:

1 John 3:18-20
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything

My desire is to not to just love God with words or tongue but with actions and truth, with all that I am. Yet I know that I will be attacked, that I will fall into sin, that I will run away, that EVEN MY HEART WILL CONDEMN ME!!!! At the same time I can find rest, a comfort, and peace because God is greater then my heart. So even when my own heart is condemning me, when Satan is throwing attacks of pride, doubt, fear, or whatever my way, I can rest assured in God because He knows my desire to worship and glorify Him!

I guess the point could be put like this: you know when you take a test or when you used to take a test and the teacher tells you to answer every question even if you don’t know the answer to mark something down, to go with your gut instinct because most of the time your gut instinct, your initial instinct, was right.

So the next time you’re at Lighthouse or your home church or your car or wherever you engage God in worship and you feel that gut instinct to throw your hands up, to dance around, to fall face down, to lift your voice higher, to glorify God with all that you are and all that He has made you to be- do it. Go with that gut instinct because even when you’re uncertain, most often your gut instinct was right in the first place.