There is power when we worship!!

These photos showed up in my Facebook memories from a couple of years ago. The sun had just set, a comet barely visible (to the left beside the tree line), the stars were shining, and my kids were laughing in the background. It was July 2020. The year of so much change but so much to be thankful for too. The Lord has created so much beauty found only in the darkness. 

“Unveiling beauty is our greatest expression of love, because it’s what the world needs most from us…we offer beauty so that their hearts might come alive, be healed, know God. That is love…” - Stasi Eldredge. What is one way we can unveil beauty? Worship Him in the darkness. Give thanks in the darkness. Rely on His promises in our toughest moments. The Lord used the night sky to make a promise to Abraham. He got Abraham outside of his tent, outside of his place of comfort, and said look up (Gen 15:5). It didn't mean easy for Abraham. In fact the journey would become a lot harder. Worship would involve sacrifice. But the Lord gave a promise in the darkness and a visible reminder to trust. We are the continued fulfillment of that promise. 

There is power found in worship. Will it relieve your immediate situation? Maybe not, but it brings your heart to the One who can grant peace and courage to walk through life’s difficulties. The Lord inhabits the praises of His people. (Psalms 22:3) If it’s been a minute since you’ve looked up, said “thank-you Lord”, and taken time to reflect and remember, then get outside. Isaiah writes in chapter 40 “Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength not one of them is missing…He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak”. And if you look up and see a bunch of clouds blocking your view. Keep the faith. Those clouds will eventually pass and the stars will be visible again. The stars are there even when you can’t see them. Your Father in heaven is also very much alive and faithful. He exists in the darkness even when we can’t seem to find Him.

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name." - Hebrews 13:15

There is power when we worship....take a minute to listen to this song!