There’s something about nakedness that has an interesting affect on us. It usually does one or both of two primary things. It either exposes insecurities or it ignites passion. Being naked is humbling for a person who’s used to covering up flaws with outer apparel. It can also be exciting because it sometimes provokes intimacy. Either way, our experiences form our feelings about exposure. In case you think I’m talking about undressing - I’m not. I am, however, inviting you to ponder your approach to God in worship and the importance of being emotionally, mentally, and spiritually naked in His presence.
Nakedness by definition is the state of being naked – duh, right? Well, describing what it really means to be naked will help form a better picture of how I intend the expression. Some great synonyms to get your mind flowing in the right direction, if not already, are: uncovered, unguarded, vulnerable, defenseless, undisguised, unadorned, open, raw, straightforward, undiluted, candid, and the list goes on. When connecting these words to worship, it makes sense why we should internally maintain “the state of being naked” before God in His consistent presence.
One of my favorite moments in the story of Adam and Eve is captured in Genesis 2:25, which reads, “and they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” Wow! There’s so much in those few words. It’s insightful not just that they were naked, but they were both naked, and they were not ashamed. Before sin, they lived carefree, enjoying their unrestricted relationship with each other and God. Nakedness was their norm, not just physically, but figuratively. There was nothing to cover up and no reason to hide. However, when we find ourselves dealing with the various effects of humanity, including bad choices, it naturally makes us respond in the opposite, as they did.
The amazing thing about worship is that God wants us to come to Him with a naked heart, flaws and all, because it was our vulnerability that ignited His passion to send His Son, Jesus Christ to come and make our relationship unrestricted again through the cross! Because God already sees and knows us, yet still unconditionally loves us, we have nothing to cover up and no reason to hide from Him. We cannot worship effectively with our hearts covered in condemnation, doubt, fear, shame or anything else. We definitely can’t while dressed in pride, self-righteousness, or anything glorifying ourselves. When we refuse to be naked with God in worship, it is like using a spiritual contraceptive that hinders us from accepting the seed of His intimacy. It’s like seeking the feeling more than the fulfillment. The truth is that the more we reveal ourselves to Him, the more He reveals Himself to us. He gets naked too!
If you are struggling to maintain intimacy with God or to receive from Him, whether gaining understanding of His Word, accepting His peace through challenges, having a renewed identity in Christ, etc., I strongly encourage you to analyze how naked you are with Him. Remember that what you think He thinks about you determines what you think about Him and how you approach Him. Hopefully, you’re now reminded that GOD LOVES YOU, incredibly and relentlessly, no matter what! It’s ok to show Him your insecurities, or put your pride aside. Let His magnificence humble you. May His love incite you to get naked and be free!