Worshiping Fool

John Wimber was the founder of the Vineyard Church movement. Before he was a follower of Jesus, he once saw a man wearing one of those signs that hang over your body...it said "I'm a Fool for Christ, Whose Fool are You?" He thought that was ridiculous, but it later came to be a phrase he lived his life by. He just wanted to follow Jesus, whatever the cost, no matter how foolish it made him look.

Last night we had an extended worship service. Our worship team was in charge of leading it. As you've heard me say before, God has been doing powerful things through worship in our church these past several months. He is also doing something powerful in my own heart through worship...I feel like I am changing and growing, and becoming more intimate with Jesus. Last night I felt like a complete fool for Christ...let me tell you the story.

For weeks I have been looking forward to this extended worship evening. I had been spending a lot of time praying for this night. Going back to last Thursday, we had practice. We got to this song called "None But Jesus", in which I, after hearing a recording of myself, though I sounded terrible doing! I was being completely lame and saying to the band how aweful I thought I sounded, etc. etc. Fast forward to Sunday afternoon. I was laying in bed to take a nap. (yay!) I felt soooo convicted about my attitude Thursday night. I really want to keep my heart and mind in check at all times to make sure I don't look at worship as a performance. Bottom line: when I open my mouth to sing, what I want to come out is the Holy Spirit. I want to be invisible, so God can be visible. I want people to engage in worship and experience the living God. I am blessed that God uses me to reveal Himself and connect with His people. So...if what comes out of my mouth is slightly flat, or the tone isn't "just right"...WHO CARES?! It's not about me...IT'S ABOUT GOD!

The band got to church an hour before the service started to check sound, get set up, etc. Before we even started, I just had to repent to the team for my ridiculous attitude on Thursday night. I felt so much better after I did...I don't think I could have fully engaged in worship if I had that still weighing on my heart. So...worship starts, and immediately I felt so connected to God. We worshiped for an hour and a half, and it just kept getting more and more intense and exciting! I was jumping up and down, waving my arms around, clapping, ACTING LIKE A COMPLETE FOOL FOR CHRIST! And I loved every minute of it! It was so freeing, because to be quite honest, it can be slightly intimidating worshiping on stage in front of hundreds of people. And most of the time, I engage in worship, but I hold back a little so I don't look like a total fool. But not last night...I was a fool in front of hundreds of people, but I only had and audience of One.

In closing, let me just say this...

I am DEFINITELY a fool for Christ! Whose fool are you?