Author’s Note: This is part of a 40 Day Lenten & Easter YWAP Devotional that explores self-sacrifice as it relates to the death and resurrection of Christ.
WHEN OUR IMPERFECTS BECOME PERFECT
The combination of our off key singing voices with a gnarly stringed old guitar probably sounded like the creaking of an old rusty gate. We'd never heard these old fashioned worship songs before. Even if we we knew them by heart, we couldn't sing them anyway. Our voices weren't in tune with anything that remotely resembled a pleasant sound. The small group of us were led by our Teacher at the Elim Bible Institute. Paul Edwards opened each class with prayer and worship. We sang loudly, in unity and praise. Singing that sounded like the creaking of a rusty gate became a heart-chorus for our Father in heaven. Through imperfect worship sounding like fingernails on a chalkboard, I learned about the beautiful sounds of God's perfect acceptance.
That experience happened to me over 20 years ago. Last night my wife and I visited a place known for people experiencing the Presence of God in powerful ways. The memory of the Holy Spirit invading my life came flooding back as we focused on God. I told the Pastor at this Worship Center about my experience with the imperfect music. He had a great response about God hearing our hearts instead of our voices. God doesn't hear the way we hear. He hears the heart. Imperfect voices in worship are transformed into perfection by surrendered hearts. Imperfect worship is transcended into the heavenlies as perfect praise from wildly abandoned hearts honoring God.
There was a time when I walked into a church and judged the worship team on their music. The Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, "Look at their hearts." Their hearts were in God's hands as they raised their voices. I saw worship in a whole new way. Imperfect people in the hands of a perfect God are perfect every time.
Mercy and grace are beats in God's never ending love song that He sings to us. Life is full of our imperfections, indiscretions, inadequacies and reckless misjudgments. We judge the way people sing without listening through ears of mercy and grace. Mercy forgoes judgment and extends compassion. Grace becomes a song in your heart when you experience salvation and recognize the sacrifice of Christ. Let your imperfect life-song be a perfect heart-song to God.
DAY SEVEN WORD
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Colossians 3:16 (KJV)
“Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace
[that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor]
with confidence and without fear,
so that we may receive mercy [for our failures]
and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need
[an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].”
Hebrews 4:16 (AMP)
HEART THOUGHTS
Do you feel free to worship without worrying about someone judging your freedom?
HEART REFLECTIONS
Leave your comfort zone. Approach the throne of grace with freedom. Have an audience with God, just you and Him without worrying who's watching or listening. If they're listening to you sing, their heart is deaf to the voice of God.
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
Jesus loves you and so do we.
#ywap40daysoflent #ywap4Christ #JLYASDW
That experience happened to me over 20 years ago. Last night my wife and I visited a place known for people experiencing the Presence of God in powerful ways. The memory of the Holy Spirit invading my life came flooding back as we focused on God. I told the Pastor at this Worship Center about my experience with the imperfect music. He had a great response about God hearing our hearts instead of our voices. God doesn't hear the way we hear. He hears the heart. Imperfect voices in worship are transformed into perfection by surrendered hearts. Imperfect worship is transcended into the heavenlies as perfect praise from wildly abandoned hearts honoring God.
There was a time when I walked into a church and judged the worship team on their music. The Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, "Look at their hearts." Their hearts were in God's hands as they raised their voices. I saw worship in a whole new way. Imperfect people in the hands of a perfect God are perfect every time.
Mercy and grace are beats in God's never ending love song that He sings to us. Life is full of our imperfections, indiscretions, inadequacies and reckless misjudgments. We judge the way people sing without listening through ears of mercy and grace. Mercy forgoes judgment and extends compassion. Grace becomes a song in your heart when you experience salvation and recognize the sacrifice of Christ. Let your imperfect life-song be a perfect heart-song to God.
DAY SEVEN WORD
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Colossians 3:16 (KJV)
“Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace
[that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor]
with confidence and without fear,
so that we may receive mercy [for our failures]
and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need
[an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].”
Hebrews 4:16 (AMP)
HEART THOUGHTS
Do you feel free to worship without worrying about someone judging your freedom?
HEART REFLECTIONS
Leave your comfort zone. Approach the throne of grace with freedom. Have an audience with God, just you and Him without worrying who's watching or listening. If they're listening to you sing, their heart is deaf to the voice of God.
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
Jesus loves you and so do we.
#ywap40daysoflent #ywap4Christ #JLYASDW
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