Expectancy and Worship
Sue Tell, Guest Writer
TODAY’S TREASURE
"Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness: tremble before him, all the earth!" Psalm 96:9
Living Nativity scenes, so popular during Advent, communicate worship to me. Often the face of the young girl acting as Mary oozes expectancy. She seems to know the specialness of this moment; her face is filled with wonder; she is worshiping.
I am excited about worship! For me, this is new.
Worship is living expectantly. Worship is trusting God to show up.
Worship is being captivated all over again with awe, like the shepherds when visited by the angel (Luke 2:13-14), or like Peter when he peered into the empty tomb and went home marveling (Luke 24:12).
The multitude visiting the shepherds was thousands of angels. It was only two angels who spoke to the women, who in turn told the apostles after the resurrection. God’s communication leads to worship:
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!" Psalm 96:7-9
What a wonderful definition of worship - ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name.
Look and notice. Listen to the familiar and once again be in awe. Be amazed by God's creation. Expect to see God and worship.
It was time to leave. Twenty of us walked through the water in our knee boots to the barge that took us and our 50-pound suitcases from Harvester Island across Uyak Bay to the 9-passenger Cessna that would fly us back to civilization. The Doxology happened. We lifted our voices to God. We lifted our voices in thanksgiving. We lifted our voices in worship. We lifted our voices in awe of all we experienced of God's creation:
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above the Heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."
Worship is a journey.
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
Being on Harvester Island in Alaska for a week was a key chapter. God taught me to worship through his amazing animal creation. The orcas, the seals, the whales, the deer, and even the tiny ermines spoke of God's creativity. I worshiped.
The basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can't see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being.
Romans 1:19-20 (The Message; bolding mine.)
As a college student in the church I attended, the large choir processed every Sunday singing the hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy". It was a previous chapter in my worship journey. I've taken the freedom to add another verse to Reginald Heber's words:
Holy, holy, holy, my creator, redeemer
Jesus came, He died, He rose
I praise His name, amen.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God, my Father
Rescuer, my shepherd, forevermore, Amen.
My friend Carolyn texted about her worship journey "... grasping worship in a new depth… It can take so many forms, songs of praise, a quiet hush of pure awe with a heart that feels like it's bursting... at the amazement of God, overwhelmed by creation, or acts of love... I don't think we will really grasp it this side of heaven, but someday... an amazing thought."
Worship is mystery. It will take as many forms as people who ascribe to God the glory due His name.
Worship is a growing experience.
Worship is being captivated by God.
Worship is expectancy - expecting to experience God.
Friends, take time this week to think through your worship journey. What were the most significant pieces?
PRAYER
Father, please continue to grow me in the habit of worship. Make me aware, expectant, and in awe of You in the creation You have enveloped me in today. Amen.
Copyright: Sue Tell, March 2022, originally posted on Echoes of Grace, 12/23/21
More free resources for help hope & healing:
Aging with Grace, Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture
By Sharon W. Betters and Susan Hunt
Agingwithgrace.online Discover afresh a gospel that is big enough, good enough, and powerful enough to make every season of life significant and glorious. Free Ask an Older Woman videos and much more. Not just for older women!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan Tell is the wife of William Tell, a great name if you want people to remember you. Mother of two married sons (one a PCA pastor), two delightful daughter-in-laws, and Mana (gramma) to six special gifts to our family, ages 2-16. Sue is a member of Village 7 Presbyterian where she enjoys the ministry of mentoring. Her ministry loves: writing, mentoring, and speaking, and she is the author of Echoes of Grace, written to invite readers to better understand life through the lens of God’s grace, suetell.com. Sue loves traveling - especially to warm places - with my husband. At home, walks with Molly (our Golden Retriever).
For more from Daily Treasure please visit MARKINC.ORG.
Originally published Tuesday, 07 November 2023.
SHARE
