“February, Week 1:

Worship Training

As I write, I am in the throes of sleep training our first child. It’s exceptionally challenging to think and write while hearing that finely tuned frequency in his scream that I’m convinced is custom matched to my (and my wife’s) inner ears. You know, the one that tingles your spine. And that’s from a distance. When it’s directly next to your face, I’m unable to hear pitches for a few minutes, due to the ringing and temporary hearing loss (hopefully not permanent, please don’t let this be permanent).

We, and our congregations, go through similar trials as we grow in worship. Worship training is a lot like sleep training; it may be painful or awkward, and you don’t know if it’s even gonna work. But you press on because whatever is on the other side is better than the alternative: to stay where we are. If I let my son live a life of comfort forever, he would never grow to be the world-changer I hope for him to be. He would never experience most of the plans I may have for him. He would become a spoiled brat whose default setting is complaining.

“there is no middle ground for a worshiper, for a Christ follower.”

As extreme as that sounds, there is even worse danger in standing still. As a matter of fact, there is no middle ground for a worshiper, for a Christ follower. At every moment, you are either moving closer to Him or further away. So challenge yourself and the congregation today in some act of worship, whether by the raising of hands or simply the obvious, but all-to-often avoided, act prompted by the phrase “Sing with us!”

They will sing frequencies, pitches, and notes that would never fit what we would traditionally call “music.” But to God, to the Father, every note a child sings to Him is beautiful music. He is tuned into a frequency of our souls, one that surpasses human understanding of music, sound, and connection. One that communicates more than sound ever could. It’s the awareness of brokenness coming into reconciliation with the recognition of the sovereignty of God. It’s the collision of fear and trust, uncertainty and hope, weakness and faith, anguish and peace, hate and love. It’s all of that and more. Worship is what we are truly made for.”

“Worship is what we are truly made for.” (Tweet this)

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