And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. -Genesis 2:7 KJV
"Worship is the place where the lips of God cut dust again." -Jonathan David Helser
I have experienced no greater pleasure or joy than worshipping God. As a middle-aged wife, mother, daughter, and friend, I have had many experiences of love and connection, but nothing compares to what I have encountered in the secret place with God.
There is a place in worship that mirrors the intimacy Adam and Eve experienced in the Garden of Eden. They were naked and unashamed as they walked with their Creator, who not only authored love but is the very definition of love.
The more I have come to know God, the more I realize He doesn’t want us to hide anything from Him. In fact, we can’t hide from Him anyway. Perhaps this is why Adam and Eve were naked (aside from being in a perfect environment where it was never too hot or too cold).
Perhaps this is why babies are born naked?
Mankind was always created to be wholly loved. We were never meant to hide from perfect love. While this is easy to apply physically to babies, it’s meant to apply to our souls as well. God wants your heart. He doesn’t want a pretentious performance. He doesn’t want a shallow relationship. He doesn’t want your words or service if they’re disconnected from YOU.
There is a bearing of the soul and spirit in worship that leads to the deepest, most vulnerable connection. It is a place that surpasses every relational experience on earth. It is a place where a love so amazing leads to joyful service and willing sacrifice. It also leads to effortless transformation as you become one with Jesus.
Books that Speak on Worship
Recently, I’ve been enjoying the book, Melchizedek, The Kingdom and Freedom by Brenda Cobb Murphy. In chapter 13 on worship, she quotes, The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn:
“What do you think of,” asked teacher, “when you hear the word worship?”
“Singing, hymns, prayers, words of praise…”
“That’s the outward form of worship,” he said, “That’s how worship manifests. But what’s the heart of worship?” … “It’s found in the New Covenant Scriptures. It only appears in the Greek. It’s the word proskuneo. Do you know what it means?” … “It means to kiss,” said the teacher. “True worship is to kiss. And what does that reveal? … A kiss is the most intimate of acts. Therefore, worship is to be the most intimate thing you can experience… So true worship is never done by compulsion, but freely from the overflow of your heart.”
Later, Brenda says, “fulfilling the law changed worship to a continual heart of adoration… we are created with different personalities. Even knowing that, we still tend to judge others by the music they like. There are two camps of ‘official’ worship music — hymn singers versus ‘contemporary’ worship music, and both sides will die on whatever hill they’re standing on.
There is nothing wrong with either one; worship isn’t about the song you’re singing, it’s about your heart. God is constantly doing new things in worship, taking us deeper into him and into his presence… We must always be ready for God to give us a fuller interpretation as he changes us into his likeness, constantly showing and teaching us a deeper revelation of himself… You can’t put God in an old wineskin; he’ll burst out of it. The minute you think you know what God would and wouldn’t do, be careful, he’s bigger than you think.”
Beholding Intimate Worship
There has only been one time in my life when I’ve seen a worship leader express such love for Jesus that I was embarrassed, and that was when Steffany Gretzinger did.
I had gone to a Jesus Image worship conference and just found a seat in the overcrowded stands filled with other worshippers. (I’d like to think of worshippers as Jesus lovers, men and women who are after God’s heart)
Steffany knelt in the middle of the stage as musicians stood and played beautiful melodies with fluid grace. Steffany closed her eyes and extended her arm as she sang. The moment her ethereal voice reached my ears, I was drawn into something incredibly deep. As she rocked back and forth, singing to Jesus, her passion became evident, and it was clear that her focus was not on anyone or anything around her. Her affections were being poured out at the Lord’s feet as if He were sitting in front of her (and I don’t doubt that He WAS). The sheer adoration and passion that overflowed from her heart, expressed through her body and in her voice, made me feel as if I had walked into a private chamber shared by two faithful lovers.
Without thinking, I looked away.
I actually looked away.
I had NEVER had that reaction before! Not with anyone who expressed their love for Jesus.
After a few seconds of realizing what I was doing, I forced myself to look back at her.
Wow.
Her connection to Jesus stunned me.
It blew a hole in my small paradigm of what worship is.
And it gave me a glimpse of what it might mean to embody the greatest commandment to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37)
Please enjoy the video of her singing to Jesus (I was in the audience)
The Sacred Wooing
In my upcoming book, The Sacred Wooing (a story that unveils the bridegroom love of Jesus), I wrote a chapter on the intimacy of worship. Here is a snippet from that scene (you can follow updates on the book by joining the FB community group):
Wind, spiced with the scents of the fragrant garden outside, rustled through the ballroom.
I watched as the hallowed purple, blue, and red curtains floated like banners from their high posts. The blonde tendrils of a woman nearby brushed against her forehead and waved across her back.
I dipped my head. “Somehow, I hoped you wouldn’t become aware of my hidden places.
But looking at you now, I realize you’ve known about them from the beginning.”
“I love you no less because of this. But keeping me separated from any part of yourself will hinder your ability to experience my love. It will also stop you from entering the joy of worship.”
The warm, peaceful presence of the Holy Spirit quickened Romans 12:1-2 in my mind; I imagined Paul on his knees, beseeching the Roman church through his pen to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice and thus embrace true spiritual worship. He’d cried out for them to renew their minds to understand the will of God.
Becoming his bride would mean living a life of worship. What would it be to wholly offer my body—to truly yield to the Father with my every action? Is this what Jesus meant when he said to “love the Lord your God with all your strength?”
A Poem for Jesus
There was a time in worship when I was so elated that I felt I caught a glimpse of Jesus. I didn’t see Him with my physical eyes, but He became so real in my heart that I began to dance. The joy in my heart was beyond description. The pleasure of His close company filled me with bliss and made me twirl. I couldn’t help but express my love for Him.
Later, I wrote a poem of love for Him.
You can read it by clicking here.
I pray that you experience the depth of love that Jesus has for you. I pray your soul is lifted by the elation of God’s pleasure for you. And I pray, this creates your own, private worship time with Him.
“And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.” -2 Samuel 6:14-15