Ask "Who" Not "Why" in Worship

For the month of June, we are going to do a series on worship. And it only seemed right and natural to ask Jeff Willis, our Pastor of Worship Gatherings, to write this series. So here is Jeff's first article in his "Going Deeper in Worship" series. May you be encouraged and challenged as you worship God.

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You ever have one of "those" days, weeks, or maybe even seasons? We all do, and how we respond to those times in our life can not only grow us spiritually, but also be used to reflect Who God is to us and in us to a watching world.

There are many things that happen in our lives, and by default we ask ‘Why is this happening to me?" What if our question changed from "Why me?" to “Who is this about?”

Notice Job’s reply to the Lord when he was going through some “stuff”:

“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’
My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.”
Job 42:1-5

Job was well acquainted with hopelessness. He faced an extremely difficult season filled with death, sickness, and the loss of everything. At first, like most of us would, he felt entitled to know why he was experiencing so much pain. Yet Job shifted to a posture of worship and humility as he saw Who God was. When he encountered the living God in sincere praise and worship, he could not help but stand in awe as his perception of God transformed from someone he had heard about to One he saw and experienced himself.

Like Job, in difficult seasons, followers of Jesus can shift their focus from asking why something is happening to asking Who is sovereign over their lives. As we come to know the God Who so intimately wants to know us, we can experience the joy of trusting in God Almighty through every situation.

So maybe your prayer could go something like this…
“Father, open my eyes to see who You truly are. In the midst of joys and struggles, make it my heart’s deepest desire for You to be glorified and that I would see and know that You are growing me and taking me deeper in my worship and walk.”

As we look to draw closer to the Father, believing our worship of Him blesses His heart and that He lives in our praises, let us go deeper in our personal worship of Him, which will overflow into every area of our lives.