We are continuing our fall blog series, “7 Must-Wins.” With a uniquely personal twist toward us as women, we will address seven topics that must be understood and walked out in order for us to have success in this life. To start with Part 1 of this series, click here.
Music has always been part of my life. Whether we were singing hymns at church, on a family road trip (where we listened to anything from ‘50’s and 60’s Rock n Roll, Classical, Motown, to college fight songs), or playing the piano, music was always there. Perhaps this is where God began to lay the groundwork in my heart to become a worship leader. Maybe it’s just because I really like music! Either way, music is where worship began with me. Not with Motown or college fight songs, mind you. But when I was 12 years old, I attended church camp and heard (what we in the church world call) contemporary worship for the first time. I was hooked. Because this wasn’t just about singing some songs about Jesus. It wasn’t just about a really cool band, whose members had long hair and tattoos (Um…I had never seen that in church before). I had an experience. In fact, the best way I can describe it is that I truly, purely, experienced the Presence of Jesus. For the first time in my life, I connected with my Savior. I felt alive! Why? Because He is my Life-Source!
In John 4, Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman who was drawing water from a well. It was very unusual for a male Jew to speak to a female Samaritan. In fact, according to the Law, Jesus would’ve been considered “unclean” by drinking from this woman’s vessel. It’s interesting to me that the Samaritan woman is who Jesus tells first that He is the Messiah. According to the world’s standards, she was most unworthy. She had been married 5 times and was living with another man. Why would Jesus reveal Himself as the Son of God FIRST to this person? Because she was dead in her sin. She needed to be connected to her Life Source. Jesus says to the woman, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (vs. 13-14, emphasis mine). You see, the water we receive from the Father becomes something inside of us…NEW LIFE! Isn’t this good news!?! Why wouldn’t we want to be connected to our Life Source?
When we worship, we become more aware of God’s Presence. God’s not looking for accolades or compliments. He’s looking for our hearts to be connected to His. He loves us SO! His desire is to be in relationship with us at the deepest level.
So what’s music got to do…got to do with it? (Because everything is a song to me…) Music is a vehicle to not only express our worship, but also to touch our emotions. You can hear a song that was popular when you were in high school, and you will literally FEEL what you were feeling during that time in your life. (Which could be good or not so good…) When I hear a college fight song or a Motown song, I immediately think of the many road trips we took as a family when I was growing up…good times. When we listen to someone singing, playing guitar, playing the keys, or even playing a pipe organ (‘cause that still happens), and they are worshipping Jesus, our hearts become vulnerable to the One who created them. Our Creator God is lovingly speaking to us, connecting to us, revealing Himself to us. And when we respond…OH FRIEND…that spring of water wells up inside of us and WE FEEL ALIVE!!!!! Because we ARE ALIVE!!! Praise Jesus!
Jesus goes on to tell the Samaritan woman, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (vs. 23)
Are YOU the kind of worshiper the Father seeks? Is your worship observable? Are you aware of God’s Presence in your life right now? Do you recognize that He is revealing Himself to you? Are you connected to your Life Source? Come and take a drink…
This post was written by Allison House. To read more about her, click here.
**To read Part 4 of this series, click here.
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