Entry #1 - The Awesome God We Praise

Bebo Norman released a song recently that has become a personal favorite of mine, and one that I often play during times of worship when I am alone with only my guitar.  The song is called “God of my Everything,” and it features an uplifting line that demonstrates God’s personal connection with each of us despite the large scope of His Greatness:

In all creation, you call my name

In all the beauty that this world displays

Still I’m the one for whom your heart aches

In all creation

This is such a powerful statement.  Consider the Greatness of God and all He is capable of.  Consider the Wonders of Creation.  It is hard to truly grasp the Magnitude of His Splendor and Holiness, and yet God aches for us.  Each and every person.  It is hard to fathom, but when we truly accept it, it can transform us.  It is then that we truly embrace the Love of our Creator.  The Creator of the earth calls for us, and He aches . . . He aches for us.  He sent His Son to die for us.  But do we truly understand that?  Do we truly embrace it?

We sing about God’s Awesomeness and Holiness, but I wonder how much we comprehend it.  I know that I often fail to appreciate who God is, and I make Him small in my own eyes.  But when we gain even a fraction of an understanding of God’s greatness, worship becomes even more powerful, simply because this Awesome, Amazing, Holy, Magnificent, Wonderful God delights in hearing us play and sing.

Think about that.  Think about Who we are worshipping and then consider how much God appreciates our praise.  God listens and enjoys our music.  No matter how bad we think it sounds, no matter how imperfect, when we truly surrender, the perfect God cherishes the sounds we lift to Him.  I know we all believe the words we sing, and all the songs that proclaim God’s Greatness.  I know that, even if it is not continual and stronger some days than others, we are in awe of our Creator.  But what truly encourages me, and I hope it does the same for everyone on this team, is that God, our Creator, values the creation we bring to him: our worship is beautiful to He who Controls the Universe.

Worship is our response to the Wonder of our Lord.  It comes from a place of brokenness and accepting how small we are compared to Him.  But, true worship does not end with the thought that God is Great and we are not.   True worship comes from a place where we lift Him high because He hears us and loves us.  It is not one sided.  God is not this impersonal being in heaven.  Our songs are not like gifts we offer to Him just to appease Him but that are ultimately just thrown into a pile.  God holds every gift close to Him.  We sing to Him because of All that He has given us, and He listens with delight because He loves every note and every person who sings and plays them.

What a powerful Truth.  In all creation, God calls for us and aches for us.  He meets us on a personal level.  And we have the great honor to represent Him as leaders in worship.  Consider the privilege we as people blessed with musical gifts have to lead others to a place of worship, because we are given the opportunity to bring God’s people closer to Him with these songs.  While it is God and His Spirit that draws us to Him, we are the vessels God has chosen to accomplish this.  God treasures the voices of surrender rising from his people.  God longs for us to draw closer to Him and worship is a means for this.  It leaves us vulnerable and united with the amazing God in heaven.

So when we stand up in front of the congregation, singing or playing our instruments, or even for those who mix the sound and run the videos, I hope we can always remember Who it is we are playing for.  It is not the crowd in front of us.  It is not the other members of the team.  We are playing for the God who created the universe and yet loves us so much He listens to our songs and relishes our praise.  We are not performing; we are bringing others to this place of worship.  Consider how much God desires a relationship with us and how He longs for us to draw closer to Him.  Worship is one of the manners in which this is accomplished, and it is my belief that it is the most powerful form of surrender, when our hearts match the words we sing.  God desires this and He uses us as a worship team to bring others to this place.  Even when our hearts are not fully focused on Him when we play, He still uses us to lift up others.

Worship can be a comfort in the lives of others.  People come to church dealing with pain and hurt, and sometimes the right song helps alleviate that pain, leading to the point of surrender.  This is the role we play, and it is an important one.  God is truly indescribable, as another worship song beautifully illustrates, but for all He is capable of, all he has done, he still loves to hear us when we surrender to Him in worship.

What an Awesome God we praise.

¹ I will exalt you, my God the King; 
   I will praise your name for ever and ever. 
² Every day I will praise you 
   and extol your name for ever and ever.

³ Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; 
   his greatness no one can fathom. 

⁴ One generation commends your works to another; 
   they tell of your mighty acts. 
⁵ They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— 
   and I will meditate on your wonderful works. 
⁶ They tell of the power of your awesome works— 
   and I will proclaim your great deeds. 
⁷ They celebrate your abundant goodness 
   and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

 ⁸ The LORD is gracious and compassionate, 
   slow to anger and rich in love.

 ⁹ The LORD is good to all; 
   he has compassion on all he has made. 
¹⁰ All your works praise you, LORD; 
   your faithful people extol you. 
¹¹ They tell of the glory of your kingdom 
   and speak of your might, 
¹² so that all people may know of your mighty acts 
   and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 
¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, 
   and your dominion endures through all generations.

   The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises 
   and faithful in all he does.
¹⁴ The LORD upholds all who fall 
   and lifts up all who are bowed down. 
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you, 
   and you give them their food at the proper time. 
¹⁶ You open your hand 
   and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

 ¹⁷ The LORD is righteous in all his ways 
   and faithful in all he does. 
¹⁸ The LORD is near to all who call on him, 
   to all who call on him in truth. 
¹⁹ He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; 
   he hears their cry and saves them. 
²⁰ The LORD watches over all who love him, 
   but all the wicked he will destroy.

 ²¹ My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. 
   Let every creature praise his holy name 
   for ever and ever. - Psalm 145

Our Challenge for Worship

How do we see God?  Do we truly appreciate who He is?  Do we truly stand in awe?  Maybe we do, but we need to examine how we see ourselves, because this Great God cherishes our praise.  When we worship, let’s try not to get caught up in our faults and instead embrace the Truth that God loves us and values our broken hearts.  God wants to draw close to us, and we have an opportunity not only to draw close in worship, but also lead others to Him.  It’s my prayer that we never lose sight of that.