For The Mus♪c In You

    If you go to church or most any religious service, there's normally that first 15-30 min. worth of music at the beginning of service. Maybe you've seen the guy who takes a rip-rocking guitar solo every chance he's got or the girl who wants to sing every single song but makes you feel super awkward watching her, or the drummer that has such terrible rhythm you don't even know what song it is anymore! Trust me I understand.
    But, I will say DON'T BE TURNED OFF BY THIS. Is it a show sometimes for people?YES! Are they human too? YES! Is the music so bad sometimes you just want to take out your lighter and yell "Free bird!" YES! 

    Philippians 3:3 says "...worship in the

Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH."

    I think that people honestly don't take praise and worship seriously because they don't enough about it. Why do we raise our hands? Why do we sing songs? Why do we clap? So in asking these questions myself, I thought I'd share with you where my searching has landed me...

1. Why Raise The Roof?
    
    Raising your hands as a sign of "adoration" or surrender goes back further than Jay-Z's "H-to the Izzo" believe it or not. People have been raising there hands to gods, kings, political figures, and more for many years. People to this day still do it at concerts, events, and clubs but find it awkward or even "outdated" to raise their hands in church as a worshipful gesture. I'm not saying everyone in church HAS to raise their hands, but once I understood why, people did it, and as I started giving myself over to GOD in worship and not to the MUSIC in worship, it became an action more out of thankfulness than out of obligation.

"Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless

the Lord." Ps. 134:2

2. Why Put Your Hands Together? 
          clap- to clap the hands, as to express approval; applaud

    More than a built-in instrument or a way to keep time, people often clap as a sign of praise. Right along the lines of lifting our hands, it is an action of our thankfulness, surrender, and appreciation for the one whom we're clapping for!

"Oh clap your hands, all people; shout to God with a voice of joy." Ps. 47:1.

3. Why Sing?

         sing- to tell about or praise someone or something in verse or song

   If you have ever had a song written about you, you know how much the value the person who wrote it or sings it, places in you! The same is with God...Our songs, or time of praise & worship, show the value we place on spending time with God and is a means of our expression of love, thankfulness, appreciation, gratitude, awe, and so much more!

 "Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy and sing praises."
-Ps. 98:4

   So, next time you think of Praise & Worship as that "extra time" to get to church, think again! When you want to be distracted by what's on stage-don't! Shut your eyes if it helps you focus and think of something God has done for you. Sing along even if the band is terrible--but, whatever you do....

 DON'T MAKE WORSHIP ABOUT YOU!