WORSHIP: A Window and a Weapon…Back-to-School Survival Tips for Us Adults (Part 2 of 4)
Anyone been in a “mood” lately? Seems Back-to-School-Scurry wreaks havoc with all of us, even if we don’t have a student to dress, drop off, or pick up. Remember the saying, “If Mamma Ain’t Happy, Ain’t Nobody Happy?” September simply screams for survival tactics.
Last week we focused on PRAYER with some survival ideas for you, your student, their teacher, and your family.
This week we’ll camp on something that can turn our moods around in a second: listening to music. Worship music has the power to turn all of our attitudes around.
Recently, while watching a video of Matt Redman leading worship at the Passion Conference this year, I was struck by his vision of worship. He said, “Worship is like two things:
#1: It’s a WINDOW, that enables us to see God.
And #2: it’s a WEAPON which wards off the enemy.”
Consider these valuable visuals… I predict we all will have better attitudes, be better equipped and perhaps be a tad easier to get along with when we intentionally worship!!!
Before we get to a couple of songs, you MUST know God orchestrated quite a God-incident. Last Friday, I learned from my sister-in-law that her son-in-law, Chris Byrley, would be preaching at Throne of Grace Community Church. (www.throneofgracecc.org )
Naturally we wanted to go hear him. What do you s’pose his topic was? Yep: WORSHIP. “Worship and Beholding the Glory of God” from Isaiah 6:1-8. Do you love that? (I’ve had my four survival tips for y’all for September lined up for weeks. Worship being this very week’s topic!!!)
Chris delivered a superb sermon, walking us thru’ each verse, enlightening us on his well-chosen points which we could ALL relate to. He asked, “Do we truly behold God’s Glory or do we allow it to become too familiar, mundane, routine?” We were all nodding our heads…”Yes, we’ve all snuffed out the fire in our worship.”
Chris dubbed the below passage as “Biblical Lasik”….giving us better vision to behold the Lord of Hosts, who defines “Holy, Holy, Holy.”
“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:1-8
One of many pearls Chris offered comes from John Piper:
“The fuel of worship is a true vision of the greatness of God;
the fire that makes the fuel burn white hot is the quickening of the Holy Spirit;
the furnace made alive and warm by
the flame of truth is our renewed spirit;
and the resulting heat of our affections is
powerful worship,pushing its’ way out inconfessions, longings,
acclamations, tears, songs, shouts, bowed heads, lifted hands, and obedient lives.”
I’d like to share with you just two of my favorite worship songs, along with some of the lyrics. They instantaneously bring a healing balm to our fragile hearts. My prayer is you’ll have a refreshed and renewed attitude after reading (and hopefully singing) these:
The first song is Come As You Are sung by David Crowder.
Read slowly and savor the lyrics to Come As You Are – (My comments are in parentheses.)
“Come out of sadnessFrom wherever you’ve beenCome broken heartedLet rescue begin (Don’t we ALL want to be rescued???)
Come find your mercyOh sinner come kneelEarth has no sorrowThat heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrowThat Heaven can’t heal (There is NOTHING Heaven can’t heal. Don’t miss this repeated phrase!)
So lay down your burdens (Lay them down and LEAVE them at the Cross.)
Lay down your shameAll who are brokenLift up your face (Yes, we can lift up our face no matter the situation.)
Oh Wanderer come home (Pray for all our prodigals to COME HOME.)
You’re not too farLay down your hurtLay down your heartCome as you areCome as you are (My favorite part! Come as you are…..
AS.
YOU.
ARE….)
There’s hope for the hopeless (Hope!!! Don’t we ALL want hope??? Need hope???)
And all those who’ve strayedCome sit at the tableCome taste the grace
There’s rest for the wearyRest that endures (Rest for the weary that ENDURES!!!)
Earth has no sorrowThat heaven can’t cure”
The YouTube version with the lyrics is wonderful:
The second song is Oh God How I Need You sung by Matt Maher. This song kills me every single time. Read thru’ and savor these lyrics. (Again, I’ll comment in parentheses.)
“Lord, I come, I confessBowing here, I find my RESTWithout You, I fall apart (We must recognize we do truly fall apart without Him.)
You’re the One that guides my heart
*Refrain:
Lord, I NEED YouOh, I need YouEVERY HOUR I need You (Every hour, every minute, every second we need Him.)
My one defenseMy righteousness
Oh, God how I NEED You
Where sin runs deepYour grace is more (Grace is more!)
Where grace is found, is where You are
Where You are, Lord I am freeHoliness is Christ in me
Yes, where You are, Lord I am free (Don’t miss this! We are FREE!!!)
Holiness is Christ in me
*(Refrain—see above)
Teach my song to rise to YouWhen temptation comes my wayAnd when I cannot stand I’ll fall on YouJesus, You’re my hope and stay” (Yes, Jesus is our hope and stay. Amen.)
* (Refrain)
Keep in mind these are just two of a multitude of worship songs to turn your mood around, helping you survive this back-to-school September. If you’re more prone to enjoy hymns (I love both contemporary and traditional), grab a copy of Rob Morgan’s Then Sings My Soul.
This past March, I did a three-part post on worship. (Yeah, sorta obsessed, but in a good way!!??!!) For more ideas on worship, please visit these LINKS:
“Power Up Your Mornings with Worship”,
and “Transform Your Morning and Your Mood in Less than Ten Minutes”,
and “Mr. Music Please….Why We Mustn’t Argue Over Musical Styles of Worship”….
Now go hum a few bars….
Revel in God’s Glory.
Stay right here for the next two weeks when you’ll hear from some STELLAR authors on their take for two more tips on surviving September!
‘Til next time!