Worship is a Lifeline

Last week, I was reminded that we can really choose to speak in two languages – the language of praise or the language of discouragement. The first is life-giving while the second promotes self-pity and despair. This week, walking in the language of praise has truly been abundant – filled with joy and peace! Reading some of the Psalms today shed more light on this idea that worship is really a lifeline for the believer.

All throughout the Psalms, David talks about his personal worship and Israel’s corporate worship. In times of prosperity and in times of life-threatening attacks, there is a constant stream of worship to the Lord. It’s a given. An assumed response to the best and the worst of situations.

Another constant throughout the Psalms is an assurance that God will advocate and protect His people. There are moments of despair – no doubt about it. Moments where the Psalmist cries out to God to not forsake him, to not hide His face any longer. Each of these cries is followed by some sort of reassurance that God isn’t going to leave or forsake him. This faith in God’s promises explodes out of the heart of these songs.  I believe that our genuine worship will correspond to the strength of our faith in these promises of God, which in turn compels more worship!

It brings great comfort to remember that David was not deterred by despair and struggles.  His faith in the Lord’s goodness and guidance remains a song of worship, day after day.

• In cries for vengeance, he proclaims “the Lord is my strength and shield; in Him my heart trusts” (Psalm 28)
• While pleading for deliverance, he says “May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, ‘God is great!’” (Psalm 70)
• After weeping in repentance, his faith remains steadfast that God will “do good to Zion in [His] good pleasure.” (Psalm 51)
• He asks for God’s advocacy against the evil ones “that they may know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.” (Psalm 83)

If we are not worshipping, then how do we expect to remember and be strengthened by the Lord’s majesty?  The Lord is always dealing bountifully with us, providing us everything that we need for life and godliness. He is constantly advocating for us and taking delight in our faithfulness to Him. We must respond with praise at all times. No matter how inconsequential our faith may seem, we must offer genuine words of praise to our Father. If not, we could spiral into discouragement and miss out on His glory among us.

The simple utterances of praise bring profound strength and joy. To praise God when we sit and when we rise, when we walk and when we lay down; these words of praise will fuel and encourage us on both good days and bad.  Worship is a lifeline that connects our heart and minds to the One who leads us in the abundant life.