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Pulling yourself in to a state of worship, even when you dont feel like it.
Its hard to pull yourself into a state of worship when you've had a really bad week. Any suggestions as to how we can overcome that?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Teresa Kathryn, T Ballard on -
just know that at the end of the week God is always there for you no matter what.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Fleming on -
I've found that during those times when everything that could go wrong does, and dryness invades my soul, people will come up afterwards and tell me how God really touched them doing the worship time. It humbles me to know that I, as a worship leader have as much to do with God visiting His people when I'm leading as a piece of paper has to do with the words that are written upon it.
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Permalink Reply by Edward Rice on -
I actually find it easier to worship God when I have had a bad week than when everything is going great. When I find myself broken and can lay that at the foot of the cross I really feel more connected during worship. If everything is going great in "my world" occasionally pride can creep in and I can tend to focus more on musical perfectionisim and how I sound instead of truly engaging in worship.
grace
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Read on -
To be honest, I see worship as primarily a matter of "doing" rather than of "feeling". So, I am in a "state of worship" when I am doing something in obedience to God, rather than when I get all of that connected-to-Him sort of feeling.... certainly it helps to remember this when I've had a bad week.
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Permalink Reply by Teresa Kathryn, T Ballard on
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I believe worship has to do with feeling. What i do when i priase God is show that i Love him. and that has to do with feeling.
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Permalink Reply by Debra McClellan on -
I agree. Worship is not about us at all. It's about showing God how much He means to us. I can't think of leading worship as performing, because I'm totally not a performer. I am just so thankful that God takes my meager talent and uses it to lead His people into an encounter with Him. I love that scripture that says, "He inhabits the praises of His people." I will confess that when I am completely responsible for a special service that my nerves get in the way of my personal worship. I know it shouldn't be that way and I'm trying to work on it. I don't know why I stress so much anyway. It's all in His hands, and He always works things out for His glory. I've got a big service coming up Nov. 14. So say a little prayer for me guys.
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Read on
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Yes, I should probably clarify what I was trying to say....
I didn't mean that feelings aren't important in worship. Evidently they are. After all, when we worship, we are primarily expressing our love for the One we are worshipping. Different people express and receive love in different ways (although I've not read those "5 Love languages" books, I understand this is the basic point they make). So, it's perhaps not surprising that different people would emphasise different aspects of worship.
However, I do tend to agree with Greg's post below about this "strange quasi-doctrine about that worship is something like a mood, that we somehow feel this 'closening' to God." In Romans 12 it defines worship as an offering - of ourselves!
So, I think that when we come to God in a good mood, and have a great time singing his praises and leave feeling we have drawn really close to him, then of course we are worshipping. But, when we are feeling rubbish, and have had a bad week, but are still able to drag ourselves in and decide to sing his praises anyway - even if we feel almost nothing - I'd suggest that this is a greater sacrifice; in doing this we worship Him more.
There have been mornings when I've been leading, but have felt down, lacking in energy, feeling almost nothing, just going through the motions. Of course, this isn't ideal. But I know - because people have told me - that even on those mornings (and sometimes, I think, especially on those mornings) God is able to take what I give and use it to draw people closer to him. And, I reckon that so long as He is able to do that, I'll keep on serving.
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Permalink Reply by Greg Moore on -
One morning, as I was on the ramp approaching the sanctuary, a parishoner whispered something to me that showed me a lot of "pastoring" work had fallen on deaf ears. I became (silently) hopping mad and entered the platform ready to drive my fingers through the piano keys.
It so happened that morning the congregation was delighting in the Spirit of the Lord. The music had an overpower sweetness to it that I was determined to resist. They were enjoying Him -- I was helping them enjoy Him -- yet I was in sheer misery for two-and-a-half songs when I suddenly found myself saying "you're really stupid; why not just toss this thing aside, like you are recommending to others with these songs" And I came back to life!
We build up one another through encouragement, and we never know just who needs it.
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Permalink Reply by Greg Moore on
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Your response, Teresa, and Daniel read's appear next to each other on my screen; they show two sides to the matter of "feeling" when it comes to worship, and to love.
The love of God moves the emotional part of us -- almost to the point that we make love to be an emotion. Feelings, however, are changeable, where love is not changeable. A person can never "fall out of love" with anybody they love, because if you love someone, you won't abandon the love!
Now this is not like Duty. "Doing" worship -- actively deciding to worship God, even when feeling mad, disappointed, confused or bored by Him -- is something deeper than Duty. Duty can be accomplished by a trained horse for carrots; love is responsive and creative in every situation it meets.
We may show God we love him by caring for a smelly person who is bad-tempered. Doing such an act of worship may be very pleasing to God, but we may not enjoy it at all, and may even remember the time with disgust. But we followed through because we had compassion -- something that has close ties to feeling, but is better than feeling.
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Permalink Reply by Greg Moore on
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Be in a state of worship during the badness of the week. Paul uses the idea, "pray continually", meaning that to the mind that is renewed in Christ, the state of worship is not emotional bur devotional -- "The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away - blessed be the name of the Lord." We worship Him at a banquet table or before a firing squad, no difference.
We will receive the goodness and the badness of the week with new perspective. The goodness we see as coming by His grace rather than luck or payment for our good behavior; the badness we may see as something that may work in His larger plan for good.
There is a strange quasi-doctrine about that worship is something like a mood, that we somehow feel this "closening" to God. Certainly when we come to church, we desire a "worshipful atmosphere" that is loaded with God-feelings -- I love that feeling same as anybody; but that's not a state of worship -- it's only the state of my feelings.
I recently took a new job which requires me to rise at 5:30 in the morning. For most of my life I've enjoyed late gettin'-up times. I didn't even know God was awake at 5:30, and was certain I would suffer physically. But I got myself up, took a hot bath, and got out there. In fact, driving down the freeway toward a swift sunrise every day has been exhilarating and has improved my whole attitude.
I'm writing this stuff, all the while trying to figure out how to answer your question directly. I might suggest doing exactly what you are already doing. "Pull yourself." As you say, it's hard sometimes. Well, when it's hard, pull harder. God loves you -- His yoke is easy, His burden is light. Just start worshiping Him. He loves that.
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Read on
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Good post!
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Permalink Reply by Lorraine Doswell on -
I had a wonderful experience a couple of weeks back when I was doing worship with one other person. I had had an awful week at work, plus I wasn't feeling well. When I got there I made my apologies to the other guy for feeling 'awful' only to have him say that he was feeling pretty much the same. Anyway, we had a quiet prayer, asked for the Lord's help and set off with the worship. Within seconds we just looked at each other in awe.......the worship was alive! I can honestly say that it was one of the best worship sessions I have ever encountered. Praise be to our God!
One rule that I have laid down for myself though is that, no matter how bad I am feeling 'I leave all baggage outside the door and pick it up later if it is still there!'
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