Worship is something we give to God in response to who He is and all He has done for us, but sometimes we have to offer our worship to Him sacrificially. Sometimes, there may seem to be no evidence of His goodness, faithfulness, and love towards us. Sometimes we can not see His hand at work in our lives. Sometimes we must simply worship Him not for what He has done for us, but because we believe that He is who He says He is. This sacrificial worship moves us closer to God and opens our eyes to His character and His work in our lives.
For two and half years, I was in a really dark place. Depression and anxiety were my constant companions, and I couldn't see any point to this life. It all felt so futile. I was working so hard towards nothing. My life felt so empty and I could not see any of the blessings around me. Satan had trapped my mind in a very ugly place. I did not want to be the way I was. I wanted to break out of it and feel the joy of salvation again. I had tried therapy and different medications, but I just could not break out of the depression... But one day, I decided to start reading through the Psalms, and that turned everything around for me!
Psalm 31:9-24 NLT
Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress.
Tears blur my eyes.
My body and soul are withering away.
10 I am dying from grief;
my years are shortened by sadness.
Sin has drained my strength;
I am wasting away from within.
11 I am scorned by all my enemies
and despised by my neighbors—
even my friends are afraid to come near me.
When they see me on the street,
they run the other way.
12 I am ignored as if I were dead,
as if I were a broken pot.
13 I have heard the many rumors about me,
and I am surrounded by terror.
My enemies conspire against me,
plotting to take my life.
14 But I am trusting you, O Lord,
saying, “You are my God!”
15 My future is in your hands.
Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
16 Let your favor shine on your servant.
In your unfailing love, rescue me.
17 Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord,
for I call out to you for help.
Let the wicked be disgraced;
let them lie silent in the grave.
18 Silence their lying lips—
those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.
19 How great is the goodness
you have stored up for those who fear you.
You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,
blessing them before the watching world.
20 You hide them in the shelter of your presence,
safe from those who conspire against them.
You shelter them in your presence,
far from accusing tongues.
21 Praise the Lord,
for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.
He kept me safe when my city was under attack.
22 In panic I cried out,
“I am cut off from the Lord!”
But you heard my cry for mercy
and answered my call for help.
23 Love the Lord, all you godly ones!
For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him,
but he harshly punishes the arrogant.
24 So be strong and courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord!
I identified with David and his distress. I understood his desperation, and I learned from him that the best remedy for a broken spirit is praise!! You will see it all throughout the Psalms: David cries out in distress and he asks the Lord why He is far away, but He always comes back to God's goodness and faithfulness. He always believes in God's unchanging character, and that is what pulls him through.
Psalm 27: 9-13 NLT
Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
Be merciful and answer me!
8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
9 Do not turn your back on me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord will hold me close.
11 Teach me how to live, O Lord.
Lead me along the right path,
for my enemies are waiting for me.
12 Do not let me fall into their hands.
For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
with every breath they threaten me with violence.
13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
Worship is not only music to God's ears, it soothes our hearts...it is a balm for our souls. It convinces us of God's character, His goodness, His faithfulness, His love! When I began to declare that God was good and faithful, I began to see His goodness and faithfulness in my life, and my depression and anxiety began to disappear.
The Lord is my light and my salvation—Psalm 27: 1-3 NLT
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
2 When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident.
His light replaced the darkness that had overtaken my spirit, and I became confident in Him and my identity in Him! When I began to worship, Satan could no longer have a stronghold in my mind.
So, you see, personal worship is very powerful! Even if your time of corporate worship at church is stale and contrived, you can worship the Lord in your private moments with Him. You can worship Him where you work. You can praise Him when you rise up in the morning and when you lay in your bed at night! It is powerful to praise Him! Praising Him is about more than just music and songs, it's about having an attitude of gratitude and declaring the goodness of the Lord everyday. Read the Psalms, read the rest of His Word, lift your hands and sing, and get on your knees before Him! When you become determined to worship Him, you will never be the same!
Here is a song based on Psalm 34 that I just can't stop singing. May we bless the Lord at all times! May His praise continually be on our lips!
Bless The Lord At All Times
By Christy Nockels