Worship Is Your Nature

Outside against a bright blue summer sky the sun shone across the mountain. Inside there was “sunshine” too as we cleaned up breakfast dishes, enjoying the opportunity to visit and looking forward to the day together. We relatives had gathered together for the weekend at a mountain retreat.  As we talked the “sunny climate” began to be overshadowed by dark clouds gathering on the horizon of our conversation. I don’t even remember what the topic was.  I do remember that I was contributing to the conversation, offering my thoughts on the topic and relating them to God, when abruptly the tone of the one speaking to me was critical and disapproving. They demanded:

“Why do you always relate everything to God? Can’t you talk about anything without bringing God into it? Why, can’t you just converse like normal people?”

I was stunned, unprepared for the harsh tone and abrupt questions. To relate to God was normal to me. I groped for an answer and stammered: “I, I just, I just love God.” They did not reply or linger for elaboration. They were irritated and were not looking for a meaningful discussion anyway. They left the room and for the time being the conversation concluded on that note.

In addition to being momentarily shaken by the expressed irritation, I had a lingering dissatisfied feeling deep within that my answer was incomplete. What I said was true; I knew it was not wrong. I lived life in relationship with God, aware by faith of the reality of His presence.  I was also aware, however, that my reply did not satisfy the depths of a heart yearning to accurately know Him and make Him known. I sensed there was more. I asked Holy Spirit for His fuller understanding.

His response came quickly, simply.  I heard Him say to my spirit:

“You know how birds fly and bunnies hop?  It’s their nature. You relate to Me as you do because it is your nature. This is evidence that you have a nature born anew, renewed by the life of My Spirit.  This is Me in you and you in Me being who you are, doing what you do, naturally.” [John 3:3, 6-7 NLT; John 14:20]

God’s truth illuminated the moment, deeply satisfying and consoling my spirit and soul. The impact was far more than momentary however. Like a trumpet sounding and resounding, the Holy Spirit’s voice engraved upon my heart enduring truths about the nature of His worshiper worshiping. 

I had once termed and taught worship as a “life style” but the word “style” means fashion, like something external or seasonal which may be put on or  taken off. Something that has beginning and ending.  Rather, the life of worship is of the “being.” It is itself life, the inner life of the new nature of the living, Incarnate Jesus, the Consummate Worshipper within. To worship is to be who you are created to be, born again to be, in Jesus by His very life expressing Himself through you.  

Awesome.

Awesome God.