Hello friends, I’m getting home late tonight and have less than 2 hours to get today’s post in. I think I’ll just share with you a previously written article of mine if that’s alright by you!
Thanks. I knew you’d understand.
The Heart Of Worship
In the late 1990s, Matt Redman wrote a song called “The Heart of Worship” in response to an experience he had at his home church in England. Prompted by his pastor’s challenge, the church went through a period of time when they used no sound system or praise band. Pastor Mike Pilavachi’s reasoning was they had lost their way in worship and would maybe find it again if “all was stripped away”. His belief was that a church family should be producers of worship and not just consumers. Then he posed an important question to his flock: “When you come through the doors on a Sunday, what are you bringing as your offering to God?”
The rest, as they say, is history. Since then, The Heart of Worship has become a popular anthem for Christian churches all over the world. It begins with these simple yet profound words:
“When the music fades, all is stripped away and I simply come. Longing just to bring something that’s of worth that will bless Your heart. I’ll bring You more than a song for a song in itself is not what You have required. You search much deeper within through the way things appear. You’re looking into my heart.”
Why do I bring this to mind? Well, I’m not advocating giving up praise bands. But this song proposes a gentle yet necessary examination of the heart. What do we bring to our God when we come together as a family to worship together on Sundays? Do we bring a heart that is open? Do we fully consider why we’re there? And who we’re there for?
I believe we can all lose our way from time to time in this important matter. We are easily distracted, which was certainly Pilavachi’s point. But do we need to strip down our distractions or just simply check the state of our hearts? How does our worship change when we recall the chorus of this powerful song which states: “It’s all about You, Jesus – it’s all about You”?
As a worship leader, I am often pondering these questions for my own congregation. Though I long for our worship to always come from the heart, I realize we can easily get tripped-up on the little things and forget the bigger picture. Yes, it’s hard to stumble through new music sometimes, though there is tremendous worth in that. No, we don’t always feel comfortable worshiping with unabashed and heartfelt display, though there is tremendous freedom and joy in that. And though I want the music to be pleasing to the congregation as a whole, I realize that won’t always be the case. But I can honestly say it is my sincere hope and prayer that whatever we sing (or stumble through) together on Sunday, we do it with hearts wide-open. Though we all have different tastes and styles, we share the same reason for being there.
There is only One who deserves full-access to our hearts. On Sundays, He doesn’t care so much whether we’re standing still or swaying back and forth. He’s not searching for those lifting their hands high and shouting His praise anymore than those sitting quietly in the pew dabbing their tears. He is looking past all that.
He loves you passionately.
You are His desire.
You are His treasure.
In Him, you have all that you need.
You are pleasing to Him – no matter what key you’re singing in!
You’re the one He longs to hold and comfort.
You’re the one He longs to fill with joy and new life.
You’re the reason He came and suffered.
Because of Him, you have every reason to hope.
Because of Him, you have a home in heaven.
When we come together as a family to worship, we need only to sink into these truths. The rest will just happen…
and it will be an absolutely beautiful reflection of the Heart we come to worship.
Wow, you may be short on time, but you certainly are never lacking in worthwhile messages! Thank you!
Powerful words. You do lead a very busy life, but that has certainly not kept you from sharing some very powerful lessons. Just because you are limited on time doesn’t mean your insights are limited. No need to apologize.
This song has remained one of my all time favorites. Thanks for sharing the background. Always more meaningful to know what leads to the writing of a song. And thanks for living a life that focuses on worship, personally and corporately. Thanks for your heart of worship.