Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
(Psalm 100:1-2 ESV)
I can’t sing. Even my cats stare at me when I try. Trouble is, I love to sing- always have. I worship best through songs. They can lift my soul, open my heart and float my prayers heavenward. This psalm always encouraged me because it states I can make a joyful noise, which pretty much describes what comes out of my mouth.
But, look at the rest of the verse.
Serve the Lord with gladness. Ouch, did that just crunch on your toes as it did mine? I serve the Lord through my writing, speaking, and through serving in my church and community. But am I usually glad about it, or do I let worry creep in? Am I confident I am doing His will and He will perfect it, or do I worry I have not done whatever it is well enough to make a difference? Am I more concerned about how I come across instead of how He is coming across through me? Do I grumble because no one else is pulling the load on a project? Or do I pout because I was not asked to be more involved?
Our attitude should always be of servitude, knowing deep inside down to our toes God will equip us and will use whatever we do in His name to His glory. If we worry about reactions, numbers, and other proofs of our worthiness, we have taken our eyes off serving God and put them on us as the server. We are not acknowledging He is in control and has a plan for us far greater than our little to do list.
Come before His presence with singing. Do I always approach God rejoicing in the fact I have that privilege through Christ? Do I sing in my heart and rush to greet Him? Or do I begin with a laundry list of complaints, worries and unresolved feelings?
Have you ever walked in the door and was immediately assaulted with whines, grumbles and pay -attention- to- me requests? If you ever have lived with anyone, as a roommate, wife, mother, caregiver or even pet owner- the answer is yes. How did it make you feel? Do you think God feels that way when we do that to Him?
Most people don’t want me to sing in their presence- I get it. But my Heavenly Father would like nothing better. Why? Because it adjusts my attitude to gratitude. It takes my focus off of me so I can better focus on Him in my life. That is worth making a joyful noise.
