Conditional Worship

Apr 6, 2009

I danced on the piano in worship this weekend.

“For Who You Are” by Marty Sampson (Hillsongs) sat second in the worship set line up. I’d forgotten about this one. It’s a couple years old, which makes it nearly ancient. Regardless, as the band played, the lyrics captivated me.

My soul secure, Your Promise sure, Your love endures … always.

I’d like that to be the tag line of my life. I have a ways to go on that one. Though I appear confident and secure, a little life chaos can shake things up. Which is what’s happened lately.

It makes me wonder if the chorus of this same song is what makes the difference. “I will worship You for who you are” is repeated over and over again, as if it won’t let me stop singing until I get it. And mean it.

The truth is I DON’T. Get it or mean it. I have great intentions and like to throw the phrase around, but the lyrics of my true-heart worship should  often read more like this:

I will worship you for an easy story

I will worship you for what you do

I will worship you for self glory

I will worship you for dreams come true

I aspire to be someone who worships God without condition. Even when He’s unpredictable. Unfathomable. Mysterious. Wild. But I’m selfish. Which means many times the mood of my faith and worship changes according to the events of the day and how I perceive God to be in the midst of them.

How conditional is your worship? And how would your lyric read?

4 Comments

  1. Scot Longyear

    Michelle,
    Great post. I have wrestled thru all this myself – words matching action. I wonder if God gets tired of our singing.

    Here is a rough cut of a song wrestling with just that:

    Thanks again for the great writing. Fantastic stuff.

    Reply
  2. Deana O'Hara

    I love your opening. Dancing on the piano – I can see that.
    I’ve worshipped all kinds of ways – and yes, it probably is conditional. Or maybe not. I”m not sure. I’ve sat through church and just cried before – I think that’s worship. I’ve also stood through church with hands raised in joy and through tears. I watched my friend come to praise services during her divorce and sit through it, huddled in a ball. But she was there.

    It’s all worship. We bring all we have before the One who can do something with us. The phrase “The Sacrifice of Praise” comes to mind – Beth Moore talks about it in one of her Bible Studies, but I can’t remember which one.

    I don’t know what my lyrics would be – I’ll have to think about that. I do know that during my darkest seasons I would play, pray, and sing “Lord Move or Move Me” by FFH. It was all I had.

    What I can’t do anymore – is worship by rote. read a bulletin full of words that no longer have meaning. I’ve lost that ability this year. I have no idea what that means.

    Great thoughts – I’ll have to look at this.

    hugs – and glad you are refreshed. Taking face time with Jesus is vital in our roles as women.

    Reply
  3. Susan

    In this life, we are so imperfect. None of us is the son or daughter we should be, the spouse we should be, the parent we should be, the friend we should be…. And our worship is not what it should be. We are a work in progress.
    I recall the Gospel of John, when Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved (agape) Him. Peter the first two times used the word philio, instead of agape. The third time our Lord when down to where he was and used the the word philio. (I’m doing this from memory, so I hope I got it right.) Our worship is imperfect, but He meets us where we are. Though your words and the Psalms give so much to aspire to.

    Reply
  4. Michele

    Scot, your song is amazing. Wow … didn’t know you could sing like that! Thank you so much for sharing the link.

    Susan and Deana … I love your thoughts and heart and always feel so encouraged when I read what you write. Keep it up …

    Reply

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