A Worship Experience
A WORSHIP EXPERIENCE
God definitely showed up and showed out during yesterday’s Sunday morning service at my church. I went there with many burdens and left light as a feather. I had questions and God answered them. I was weary and He renewed my strength. Can I help but be in love with Him?
I am humbled and grateful. I entered into His court with praise and thanksgiving, and while doing so, the enemy was trying so hard to prevent me from pressing into the very presence of God by reminding me of all of my shortcomings and mistakes. Yes, the enemy goes to church. “You’re so this” and “You’re so that” was what I was hearing, and at first I was rebuking the enemy with the determination of giving praise and glory unto God even though I had issues. My mindset was “although I have issues and although I fall short, God is still awesome and I know He is doing a new thing in me. However, even if He did not another thing for me, He still more than deserves the best of me and certainly deserves all of my praise and worship.” The enemy’s response was “you’re taking advantage of God. It would be better if you just sit down and shut up because you’ll be a hypocrite praising God knowing that you have problems”. My only comeback was the Word of God, 1 John 1:19, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
I must confess that it was a fight to get into worship this morning because I knew there were things God is delivering me from. With that said, it would’ve been easy for me to let the enemy effect (or should I say infect) me with his lies and manipulations, especially since I come from a perfectionistic background; however, the Holy Spirit was telling me to press into the presence of God and know that His Word is truer than my feelings – for God is Truth.
After the enemy realized he couldn’t get me to stop worshipping God by reminding me of my sins and shortcomings, then he tried to lure me into flesh and pride. It was crazy. He was whispering all types of madness in my ear to shift my focus from God to me; however, I continued to worship God in spirit and in truth. Then he tried to convince me that everyone was looking at me and I looked stupid. However, I continued to press. The next thing you know, I was in the inner court. In the inner court was not a place the enemy could go, and in the inner court, you are humbled by God’s sovereignty. The fact that He who is Perfect loves me who is terribly imperfect put me in a state of humility and awe. There was an unspeakable sense of reverence that welled up within me that made me only able to wave my hands with no words; for there were no words I could find that could express what I was feeling on the inside. I could only cry, feeling and knowing that I am so unworthy of Him and His love. So much was welled up in my spirit that the only thing I could do is knell on my knees with my face on the floor, trying hard not to lay prostrate on the floor since I was in a public place, and cry in awe, gratitude and reverence.
While I was on the floor, I slipped into the holies of holy. It was like my spirit and the Spirit of God was intertwined on an intensed level. There was such an exchange of warmth and love that it left me speechless again. And if I did manage to speak, it was in a language that only He could understand. I felt Him not only in me but surrounding and encompassing me. His fragrance was oh so beautiful, and His touch was splendid. I was in Shekinah Glory, that is, the very presence and glory of God. There were moments when I felt incredibly overwhelmed by His glory and intoxicated by His Spirit and love. The only thing I could do besides cry is stretch out my arms and receive Him and everything He was giving me. There were times when I experienced such an overwhelming amount of peace and intimacy with God that I didn’t think my body could withstand it and that I would pass out, but I didn’t. I received from Him and He gave me every single thing I needed. This all happened before the Word was preached.
My Pastor, Dr. Christina W. Rouson, preached from a passage of Scripture that has become my favorite because it best describes where I am right now. She preached from Matthew 14:22-33 which records when Jesus walked on water. I liken this to my life right now, not from Jesus’ perspective but from Peter’s. Peter was in the boat with his co-disciples and they seen Jesus walking on water. Of all the disciples, only Peter asked Jesus to bid him to walk on water. Jesus did. As long as Peter was locked into Jesus to the point of tunnel vision, he was able to defy logic and nature and do the impossible task of walking on water. However, soon as he took his eyes off his Master, that is He who puts the Super to our natural, Peter began to sink. My life reflects this very Scripture and as long as I keep my eyes on Jesus, I am able to defy logic and the natural realm and let Jesus show me how to do the very impossible.
God used my Pastor to reveal another truth in this piece of Scripture that I love so much. It was in the 32nd verse, And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. With the wind (storm) symbolizing the storms of life, something I’ve heard and said STOOD OUT like never before. She stated that God will sometimes allow the enemy to afflict you to draw you closer to Him (God). The preceding verses show Peter being scared when he began to look at the winds while he was walking on water and as a result he began to sink. He cried out for Jesus to save him and Jesus immediately stretched out His hand to Peter and then verse 32 picks up from there, stating that the winds died down AFTER they climbed into the boat. We all know that Jesus had/has rule over the winds. Hello, the Man is walking on water! He could’ve easily rebuked the winds when He seen Peter sinking, just like He rebuked the winds earlier in Matthew 8:23-27. But no, He allowed Peter to experience sinking before He rescued Peter. Then, after grabbing hold of Peter, He still allowed the storm to continue for a while until after they climbed into the boat. Remember, the winds died down AFTER they climbed into the boat. Again, Jesus could’ve easily stopped the wind the moment Peter exercised his faith and stepped onto the water, but He didn’t. He could’ve certainly rebuked the winds once He seen that it was overwhelming Peter, but He didn’t. This lets us know that sometimes Jesus will allow us to experience strong winds before, during and / or even after deliverance. Sometimes you just have to walk it out and experience your storm even while you’re being rescued. I took this and applied it unto my current circumstance. To God be all the glory!
My day certainly did end here, but I will be here another hour trying to finish this entry. I can tell you that I left church still high off the glory of God. I had to sit in my prayer room for a while once I got home just to collect myself. I was sitting there which such a feeling of peace, love and awe. I knew that I received EVERYTHING I needed from the Lord. I needed peace and He gave it; I needed strength and He gave it; I needed answers and He gave it; I needed Him and He gave it!
I consider it a privilege indeed to experience God, for He alone is Holy. Experiencing the glory of God is an encounter that is available to ALL of God’s children; all you have to do is press in. Even though people may be looking at you and/or judging you, press in; although you yourself may feel a little crazy, press in; even if the enemy is reminding you of all your faults and sins, ask God for forgiveness, receive it, then press in; though you may feel very inadequate, remember that you are, and press in; though your mascara may be running and hair may be getting messed up, press in. Press in to offer God a true and acceptable worship, a worship that is in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Draw nearer to God and He PROMISES to draw nearer to you. A promise is only as good as its Maker. With that said, you know that this is a promise you can certainly depend on.
Have yourself a true worship experience and experience the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
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