Miriam Thurlow Writes:
While we were at New Wine this year God reminded me of something He taught me 2 years ago and what He has done since. 2 years ago, I felt God inviting me to press into worship, to learn how to truly ‘pour out my praise’ to Him. Since I have gone on this journey with Him and seen greater freedom in worship yes, but also in other areas of my life. It has not been about becoming a ‘better’ worshipper but about seeking God’s face. John Wimber said, “We don't seek God's power, we seek His presence. His power and everything else we need is always found in His presence.”
In reflecting on this, I was drawn to 2 Samuel 6 and the contrast between David and Michal. David brings the Arc of the Lord back to Jerusalem and he dances with all his might, holding nothing back in his worship before the Lord. He offers sacrifices, gives everyone gifts of food and blessings in God’s name. But when he returns to his own household to bless them, Michal does not rejoice, instead she despises him in her heart.
She did not see David glorifying God, all she could see was David behaving inappropriately as a king. She was embarrassed because she thought David was ruining their reputation, but for David his behaviour wasn’t unacceptable but simply an unintended consequence of his wholehearted worship. But Michal couldn’t get over social standing, respectability and her image consciousness. Our world today is similarly obsessed with image, and it can often be easier to be like Michal than like David. However, David was able to wholeheartedly worship God because his eyes were firmly fixed on God.
God is a wholehearted God who is all in for us and as His disciples we are called to be all in for Him, not so that we will be good enough but so that we might know in greater measure the God who is all in for us. What would it look like for you to be all in for Jesus? To seek His presence wholeheartedly? For some this may look like dancing! But for others this will look like intentionally laying down distractions. For some it will look like sitting in silence with God. For others it might mean starting the day listening to worship or reading a Psalm. Whatever it looks like for you, how are you seeking God’s presence wholeheartedly in your everyday life?
Reverend Miriam Thurlow Curate CCBN