Movement Along The Path

Through the years of living the life of worship, the Holy Spirit has drawn upon dance to represent movement along the path. When He first called me to move with Him in the dance I was attending a liturgical church and I had never seen anyone worship in the dance in any church. Worshiping the Lord in the dance in church or at church related events was almost unheard of at that time except, of course, in scripture. With white knuckles I held on to the pew out of fear and refused His invitation to minister to Him in the dance during that service.  I was more afraid of people and their opinion of me than I was reverently fearful of the Lord. Proverbs 29:25 tells us:  “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts His confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high.” [John 12:43]

Thankfully all the paths of the Lord are mercy –- this is good news! -- and He would not give up on me. Instead He would continue to move upon my life that I would increasingly incline to Him and move with Him from fear to trust and confidence, worshipfully. Discipleship is an on-going “movement.”  [Psalm 25:10]

A number of years and some degrees of freedom later while walking out of church one Sunday morning a fellow member shared with me that there was an up-coming seminar including emphasis on “dancing”.  She said as an affirmation: “You should go. You’re a dancer.” As I heard her invitation the Holy Spirit interjected immediately, with clarity and firmness:

“You are not a dancer! You are a worshipper and you worship Me in the dance!”

Ministering to the Lord in movement was not about practice, presentation or performance. It was not about talents or the lack of them. This was about worship; and my identity as a worshiper of God.

Although at that time I had come  beyond  “white knuckles” and would  express  my praise and  worship through dance,  I still experienced hesitation around the thought that someone  would think that I was showing off. Those feelings caused me to be self-conscious and feel exposed. I was not naturally coordinated or graceful.  I had lived a long time with a very loud internal voice in me cautioning: “Don’t risk! Stay safe!” It was surrender for me to lovingly and obediently yield to the Holy Spirit and worship in movement publicly during corporate worship.

“…You are a worshipper and you worship Me in the dance!” That day His word penetrated my heart delivering a defining truth to my life. As time went on, this truth continued to order my perspective to be one with Father God’s. It was freeing! It effected transformation in me.

As movement along the path of the life of worship continued so did God’s revelation. A group had been invited and prepared to praise and worship the Lord in the ministry of dance for an annual retreat weekend.  Worshiping the Lord in group dance was also progressive and unconventional at the time. I was one of the “troup.”

Although for some time I had worshiped the Lord in the dance individually, flowing spontaneously with the Holy Spirit, I felt awkward trying to coordinate steps with others.   Nevertheless I said “Yes” to this my first invitation to worship the Lord in prepared dance with a group. For many weeks prior to the retreat my two left feet and I attended the practices to prepare.

The evening of the ministry arrived full of anticipation! Many had gathered for this eagerly awaited event. The ministry was appropriately lively, over flowing with praise and worship unto God. There was responsiveness from the attendees giving evidence that they were “joining” the movement in their hearts. It was gratifying to all. 

After the presentation I was grateful that I had not stumbled, fallen and flawed the sacred dance. While still aware of thoughts of relief, someone came up to me and graciously expressed appreciation for the ministry in the dance. I started to reply simply that I was glad she was blessed when to my surprise I heard myself answering her saying: “Worshiping the Lord in the dance is the outward manifestation of the inward work Jesus has done in my heart.”  

“Yes, Lord!”  The Holy Spirit had replied to her through me. My mind had not conceptualized that thought, yet it resonated as truth in my inner person.

Over the course of the years to come the Holy Spirit would give understanding that the life of worship is as a “dance.” Dance is used as a metaphor for yieldedness and yieldedness is the movement along the pathway of the life of worship. Worship occurs when the will bows.Worship requires yieldedness. Jesus worshiped the Father. He bowed His will lovingly, worshipfully even unto death. Likewise, God inclined Himself to you, in you, giving you Jesus’ nature, that by the grace of the Holy Spirit you would incline yourself in loving yieldedness to Him and be transformed. This is the life of worship that flows from within and manifests Jesus’ relationship of yieldedness to and oneness with the Father. This is the Father’s perspective! This is what I AM is doing! [Exodus 34:6; John 6:38] 

Here is an important emphasis: While it is not being said that all must praise and worship in the dance in order to live the life of worship, may it be equally clear that all must bow and yield their will worshipfully to the Father whatever manner of expression He asks of you. That is your worship of Him, expressing the authentic life of His Son, Jesus Incarnate, through you who are His offspring. [Matthew 26:39; Acts 17:28]