tag:iamkeisha.com,2005:/blogs/more-than-music?p=2More Than Music2020-10-07T06:21:09-05:00iWorship Blogfalsetag:iamkeisha.com,2005:Post/64507892020-10-07T06:21:09-05:002022-04-18T17:55:39-05:00First Thing First<p>Relationships, wealth, health, happiness … These are common answers to the question, “What are your top priorities?” While the list isn’t the same for everyone, they still typically reign supreme as most important to an average person. Today’s society thrives on several kingdoms that rule in our world, such as economy, media, government, and more. The daily seeking of success within these earthly kingdoms makes it inevitable (without intentionality) to miss the kingdom we should seek first- the kingdom of God. </p>
<p>Jesus said, “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from Him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.” (Matt. 6:33 TPT) What a simple, but challenging statement! It’s great to know where to focus, but how do we constantly chase something that often seems intangible? Not to mention the rulers of this world that are constantly chasing us! The things that are less important don’t always feel less impactful. After all, not prioritizing them leads to divorce, debt, sickness, sadness, and more! The reality is that God isn’t saying, “Don’t prioritize them at all,” but to keep them in their proper place. They don’t have to be final, but they should never be first. </p>
<p>So, what does it mean to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first? It is not about placing God on the top of our daily checklist, as a task to be completed. Prayer? Check! Read the Bible? Check! – No, it’s not that. It’s prioritizing God as the center of each thing instead of just over it all. When we place Him at the core of our schedules, conversations, decision-making, meetings, workouts, and more, He reveals to us the systems of His kingdom and endows us with His character to function accordingly while doing our normal activities. Consequently, when we live from this place, we experience joy, grace, creativity, and success on another level. When HE remains our bullseye, our ultimate target in life, His favor ripples from the center of our being and affects everything around us. Divine downloads, fruitful outcomes, and contagious influence become our new norm as heaven unlocks its unlimited resources to us! It’s truly amazing! </p>
<p>Imagine maintaining every effort, every day from a place of God pursuit. That phone call, or email, or post that we must respond to, that person that we must help, or task we must complete – what if we sought God first in everything? Or what if we really applied the laws of heaven here on Earth? How differently our problems and conflicts would play out as we keep Christ at the center. Chasing God’s kingdom and righteousness first begins with truly seeing everything else as less important. It’s not about having time with our God, but having God in our time, all the time. So, let’s be intentional to remind ourselves to keep the first thing first, in the middle of all.</p>iWorship Blogtag:iamkeisha.com,2005:Post/64128062020-09-02T06:44:08-05:002020-09-08T11:50:14-05:00Mind Your Business<p>Though the phrase “mind your business” often comes with a negative connotation, I’d like to engage your perspective to view your mind as your business. In fact, it’s our most important business to mind. It’s a large part of how we live, perceive, and make decisions. Believe it or not, the Holy Spirit wants to be employed by us to help manage what flows from our minds into our hearts, and ultimately through our hands. So, let’s talk business. </p>
<p>The Mind - As we improve our thoughts, we experience evident transformation in our lives from bad to good, or good to better. Even scripture tells us that we are transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2). However, we can’t renew what we don’t regard. In the business of our mind, the first bill we must pay is attention. Sure, it costs time and requires practice, but it’s always a worthy investment. There’s something about monitoring our thoughts that makes us aware of our need for God. Given our human nature, you may sometimes find yourself fighting to “let” this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Phil. 2:5). Psh, join the club! The Holy Spirit shows up to work daily to help us think better, but we must first ask and allow. </p>
<p>The Heart - This is where binding contracts and transactions occur, like relational ties and character traits. That’s why we must guard it above all (Proverbs 4:23). The more we mind our thoughts, the more God can filter into our heart. The Holy Spirit is there to remove anything that has fallen through the cracks of our human brokenness. That’s why we must not harden our hearts when we hear His voice. As we convert from our will to His, wholeness is restored, and business continues. </p>
<p>Our Hands – They represent the place where God gives blessings to and through us. It may be our gifts, talents, resources, or more. It is key to understand that nothing can flow through our hands that does not first flow through our head. Our cup runs over after He anoints our head with oil. See, everything starts in the mind! Without the proper filtering system within us, we will never be able to handle what we’re holding. We can’t even receive God in our heart until we perceive Him in our mind! </p>
<p>Don’t let the distractions of the world around you rob you of your wealth within. Stop focusing on what everyone else is doing and thinking and saying. Mind your business! Think about what you’re thinking about. What are you always talking about? How does it compare to what God says about you? Search the scriptures and see. Hire the Holy Spirit to be your faithful filter, removing any harmful pathology from your mind and unlocking your next level of success and freedom! When your heart is pure and your hands are clean, that’s how you’ll know your business is good.</p>iWorship Blogtag:iamkeisha.com,2005:Post/63984792020-07-31T12:24:57-05:002021-09-14T06:39:38-05:00Compromise in The Church<p>"Martin Luther King Jr. said,' There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love.' This study is not about discrediting the church or Christians. I love the church. My concern for the church and for the well-being of its people motivates my exploration of Christian complicity in racism. The goal is to build up the body of Christ by 'speaking the truth in love,' even if that truth comes at the price of pain." - Jemar Tisby, The Color of Compromise </p>
<p>I 100% agree with Dr. King Jr. and Mr. Tisby. Anyone who knows me knows that I love God and the church. However, through my observations and experiences through the years, even recently, I must say that I am deeply disappointed. I've always been one to stand for what is right, not matter what or who is involved. That is not just because it's the moral thing to do, but it's what Jesus modeled in scripture. </p>
<p>I've been taking time to read and reflect on history and scripture to gain a better understanding as to why the church culture (at least in America) has become what it is, especially in predominantly Black churches. While I believe that the common struggles are now more often about power than skin-color, the issues are still rooted in the culture of slavery from the beginning of the American church...It just looks different today, and is more subtle since it's become "normal". However, my goal is that in everything I would get understanding. It's why I ask questions. It's why I initiate tough conversations. It's why I too speak the truth in love, whether to people or to power (which often excludes itself from people). </p>
<p>Jesus was never silent nor inactive about injustice. He saw ALL partiality as sin. He did not "play it safe". He did not place the power of His "brand" over the power of His blood. He did not settle with "pretty, political" conversations and marketing campaigns to say, "See, look what I'm doing guys! Please don't cancel me!". He challenged leaders for real transformation, without even having a title. He worked to dismantle systemic problems that did not reflect His heart for humanity. He spoke and stood against the house of prayer being a market place and "pastors" acting like slave-masters...and the funny part is that He wasn't always "dainty" about it either. He was a true agent of change. </p>
<p>I encourage every Christian to learn about Christianity in the context of the American church while aligning it with what Jesus taught and lived in scripture. When you identify the discrepancies, consider how God may want to bring justice through YOU. Often times, that thing in your gut that says "something is not right" - is RIGHT! lol Silence will never change it. Inaction will never break it. Prayer and faith alone will never move it. The dysfunction and strongholds will only grow bigger and stronger. So to what extent are YOU available for God to bring justice, not just in "the Church", but in YOUR church, as well as YOUR neighborhood, YOUR job, YOUR sphere of influence, etc? Sure, it may come with some costs, but God never orders what He cannot pay. </p>
<p>Truth in Love</p>iWorship Blogtag:iamkeisha.com,2005:Post/52155402018-05-03T15:25:29-05:002022-07-23T15:19:47-05:00Divine Fire...Or Fleshy Flame?<p>It always amazes me how quickly the dynamic of fire changes based on the environment or boundaries surrounding it. For example, a fire in a pit is beautiful, bringing warmth and making a pleasant setting in the cold. However, a fire in a forest is disastrous, being out of control and creating devastation. In both scenarios, the element of fire is the same, but the impact is different based on what the fire is on/in. I’d like to propose that it’s the same when it comes to the fire of God, or His anointing, that rests on/in people. </p>
<p>In Exodus 3, Moses discovers the popular burning bush. Given that it was in the desert, it wasn’t amazing that the bush was burning, but that it was not consumed. The bush kept its identity, but only by the grace of the fire not consuming it. In fact, the only reason why the bush stood out was because of the fire not consuming it. Otherwise, it would have just been another bush burning in the desert. </p>
<p>What if we saw ourselves and our gifts as this bush and God’s anointing as the fire? It’s incredibly important to know that His divine fire is the only reason why we “shine”, but that if we misappropriate His anointing, we could easily be consumed. It’s a true miracle when we can reflect God in our fragile, natural state and not allow the comfort or pride of what we do/give to overwhelm us to the place of destruction. </p>
<p>If you don’t believe that destruction can come from misappropriating the anointing, think about Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron in Leviticus. As priests, they put man-made fire in the censers to offer up prayers to God. This was immensely against the priestly protocol, even being called “strange fire” in Lev. 10:1 KJV. As a result, “a fire came out of the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.” (Lev. 10:2 NIV) Then, God’s response per Moses right after that was, “I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people, I will be glorified.” (Lev. 10:3 KJV) It speaks volumes to the fact that God does not play about His glory, especially from those positioned to give it all to Him! He does not respond well to “fleshy flames”, which is fabricated glory or man-made anointing. </p>
<p>So think about the anointing on your life and your gifts…Do you function in the divine fire? Or in the fleshy flame? Cultural norms, pride, and even something as simple as comfort can cause us to easily cross the thin line, putting ourselves, our ministries, our businesses, etc. in danger of being consumed. Let’s be sure to give God what He wants in His way. After all, we can’t do anything without Him anyway! We can’t even offer up a pleasing sacrifice of praise to Him without Him being on/in it! Remember that anybody can “shine” or “bring the heat”, but it’s always ALL about making sure that God gets all the glory in the process!</p>iWorship Blogtag:iamkeisha.com,2005:Post/51669182018-04-05T20:44:53-05:002022-08-30T17:49:55-05:00Diligence in the Desert<p>When you think of a desert, what comes to mind? For me, it’s dirt, space, and the scorching sun. In general, it seems like a place that represents lifelessness, and somewhat hopelessness, since there’s nothing there that excites most. However, I believe if we asked Moses, he’d share a very different perspective. Through his story in Exodus, we see that the desert represented more than a location, but a significant place that served as the backdrop to some of his most pivotal moments. </p>
<p>The first time we see Moses in the open desert is when he runs away from Egypt to escape the guilt and consequences of his crime. In a state of fear and confusion, he finds himself in the middle of what seemed like nowhere. However, that nowhere became a place for him to find himself. In the desert, he learned about life in ways that Egypt never taught him. He also met his wife and started a new family, with the responsibility of shepherding sheep. Who would’ve thought that in the desert, Moses, a former prince of Egypt, could’ve shifted his mindset and developed his leadership abilities? </p>
<p>I think it’s safe to say that the “desert moment” that changed his life the most was when He encountered God through the burning bush. Though Moses had run from his past and had gotten used to life in a dry place, with seemingly no dreams or aspirations, no sign of change, no sense of direction or fulfillment beyond daily routines, he was still caught being diligent with his natural responsibilities. God saw him making the best out of a bad situation. He saw him being teachable and productive. Before Moses knew of God, God had been molding him for his future – in the desert. There, the flame of God stopped him in his tracks and directed him toward destiny. Had Moses not gone through what he went through, including his mistakes, and still learned diligence, he wouldn’t have been prepared for purpose. </p>
<p>Isn’t that like us though? It’s often through trials that we push ourselves to be diligent. In desperation, we develop a strength and courage that we never knew we had. Thirsting for clarity and answers, we reach for fulfillment. In reluctant comfort, we are yet captivated by the call for more. Somehow in the process of restoring our lives from the dry places of brokenness, shame, regret, and uncertainty, we not only find our way, but often develop the ability to lead others. </p>
<p>If you feel like you’re in a dry place, wondering what’s next, I encourage you to remain diligent to the tasks God has given you, great or small. Whether it’s committing to prayer and Bible study, finishing your current school program, remaining faithful in ministry, or something else…do it diligently. Know that even there, God is present and preparing you for something bigger. Remember that in the desert, identity is established, preparation occurs, relationship with God is cultivated, and so much more. Don’t have a pity party! Trust that God will meet you with faithfulness! Be caught having diligence in the desert.</p>iWorship Blogtag:iamkeisha.com,2005:Post/51359282018-03-19T12:04:53-05:002023-10-16T09:49:20-05:00From Pressure to Prayer<p>I was headed to LA for a trip with a layover flight in Minnesota. When we arrived, it was snowing outside and very cloudy. Looking through the window from my gate, I became a bit anxious about flying, as I watched the plane get drenched in deicing fluid in preparation for takeoff. After sitting under the pressure of my thoughts while waiting, we boarded and were soon off the ground. The next thing I saw was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen, that in its own way, taught me something special about prayer. </p>
<p>Within a few minutes of staring from my window seat at the gloomy clouds and enduring the nerve-wrecking turbulence, we suddenly passed through the clouds into the most blissful sight of sun and sky with the clouds resting under the plane like a rug! It was such a defining moment to realize that we had literally risen above the storm! I couldn’t help but to think of the spiritual implications that it revealed. We too can rise above any storm through the act of elevating our minds. </p>
<p>This is where prayer comes into play. It’s easy to get weighed down with the pressures of life and the worries of this world, but prayer helps us to elevate our thinking by changing the perspective from which we view our circumstances. Pressure occurs when we cannot control or fix our situation. For example, certain diseases, bareness, lack, and more. After all there’s no pressure with bills if the money’s in the bank or with decisions if the answers are simple. Prayer helps to relieve the pressure of things we cannot do anything about and places them in the hands of the One who can. </p>
<p>Often, pressure creeps in within our state of being “pre-sure”, which is the place of thinking that happens before we become sure that God’s got it. It’s when we freak out before anything bad ever happens. Sometimes it’s not God’s power that we question, but it’s His plan. We know that He’s able, but wonder if He’s willing. Prayer aligns our hearts with God’s heart and allows His Spirit to intercede when we don’t even know what to pray. He reminds us that what are obstacles to us are opportunities to Him. He will give us breakthrough in areas we cannot break through on our own. It not only shifts our thinking, but connects us with true power to experience change. </p>
<p>So, the next time you feel yourself bending under pressure, I encourage you to “take a flight”. I’m not referring to a vacation, but to elevating your mind through prayer. Worrying is easy, but sometimes you must press your way above the circumstances around you. Remember that through prayer, you rise above the storms of life to view situations from God’s perspective, which brings strength, relief, strategy, power, and so much more. The best “get away” we can ever have is to the realm where the impossible becomes possible in the presence of God. As we fly high, our hearts behold the greatness of the Son and a future as limitless as the sky.</p>iWorship Blogtag:iamkeisha.com,2005:Post/50632792018-02-05T20:03:14-06:002021-09-01T06:54:48-05:00Think Like A Donkey...<p><span class="font_regular">I know...You're probably thinking, "Why would I think like a donkey?" After all, they’re known for being wild, stubborn, unintelligent, and dirty, among other not-so-nice things. However, when you see donkeys mentioned in scripture, they’re characterization enables us to learn from them if we look closely. Believe it or not, a simple donkey can lead us to develop better character through a small change in our perspective. Let me explain. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Whether through "the talking donkey" in Numbers 22, or the ones saddled for trips, we can find at least three characteristics worth emulating for ourselves. That is that they are obedient, useful, and humble. I want to highlight the donkey in Matthew 21:1-9, on which Jesus rides into Jerusalem for “Palm Sunday”. Jesus had told his disciples specifically where to find this donkey because it was a part of His plan all along (per Zechariah 9:9) and He knew it would be there when needed. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Can you say the same about yourself? Do you believe that God has a plan for you? Are you where you’re supposed to be when He wants to use you? Like this donkey, it may seem like you've been tied up or held back for a long time, when really, you've just been reserved for the right time. I encourage you to be obedient to God's placement and timing. Stationary doesn't always mean stagnant, especially when God is aligning you to your purpose, no matter how big or small it seems. If this donkey had purpose, how much more do YOU? You're not "just" a man or woman! God has a specific plan for you, but you must obey His process to be properly positioned when opportunity comes. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">We also learn from this donkey the importance of carrying Jesus. No matter what environment we enter, we must carry Jesus in with us. Through us, God can spread love, give hope, and shine His Light into dark places. We are of best use when we determine to obey. We must ask God daily to align us to His will for us to carry the weight of His glory in both word and deed everywhere we go. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">Lastly, this donkey teaches us about humility. Given the people’s response toward Jesus, the donkey could’ve gone wild for either fear or excitement from the celebration. Instead, he kept Jesus in the position of attention. There is so much power in keeping Jesus as the center of focus, despite the chaos or praises happening around us. We must remember that anything we do is all about bringing Jesus glory and not ourselves. Even as God moves through us by His power in us, we must never take the praises of others as our own. Humility is the place from which all other spiritual capacity grows. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular">So, there it is...We can learn from a donkey. Obedience, availability for God's use, and humility should always be areas in which we strive for perfection. I hope this provokes you to examine your life a bit closer to become more aware of where you are and what God is calling you to do, as well as what "highness" can be brought down. With the mind of the donkey, you will carry the weight of God with the grace of Christ, knowing that it's all about Him. With that being said, carry on!</span></p>iWorship Blogtag:iamkeisha.com,2005:Post/43942342016-09-28T11:57:14-05:002022-08-29T13:35:29-05:00Get Naked<p> 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. <br> 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. <br> 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. <br> 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! <br> 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! <br> </p>iWorship Blogtag:iamkeisha.com,2005:Post/40574762016-02-24T08:41:47-06:002022-09-06T06:59:31-05:00How's Your Love Life?<p> Love and relationships have always been hot topics. People are interested in who’s with who and how happy they are amongst other things. Studies show that when a person’s love life is good, he/she is most likely to benefit in other areas. Through the lens of spirituality, you’ll find the same applies with God. Love is <em>the</em> hottest topic to Him, more than faith, holiness, and sacrifice, as they’re all rooted in love. Worship is the application and reflection of our love life with God. In this blog, I hope to invoke a heart check by asking, “How’s <em>your</em> love life?” <br> Because humans were created to be relational, there’s an innate desire to give and receive love. Unfortunately, circumstances often bring corruption, causing dysfunction in our hearts, therefore impacting relationships of all kinds in various ways. It’s the same with God and us. Since the fall of man, the greatest challenge of humanity is to maintain connection with God and each other the way He intended. Thankfully, Jesus, after living the perfect example, died and rose to ensure that our love life could not only continue, but last eternally. <br> In any relationship, there are necessities, like communication, time, affection, and humility. A good relationship never stops growing, even when it gains stability. It’s also founded upon more than feelings and has survived various seasons of change and challenge. In relating our love life to worship, you understand that it’s deeper than emotions. Worship is similar to love in that although it’s not based on feelings, feelings are normally involved when it’s genuine. It stimulates the person’s heart and God’s heart simultaneously in the intimate exchange of love until both are satisfied. <br> Worship, however, is more than the “bedroom experience” with God. It is the daily living, the actual walking out of love, which requires discovering what that even means or looks like. Your love life is your level of investment, shown through the following:</p>
<ul> <li>Do you talk <em>with</em> Him or just <em>to</em> Him?</li> <li>Do you acknowledge that you need and appreciate Him?</li> <li>Do you seek His input on decisions <em>before</em> making them? </li> <li>Are you only affectionate or attentive when people are around or do you stroke His heart even when no one’s looking? </li> <li>How do you treat His family members, the ones you like and don’t like? Do you act as if they have nothing to do with Him? </li> <li>When you offer Him gifts, is it pure or only to get something? </li> <li>When things don’t go your way and challenges or even disagreements arise, do you leave Him or push Him away? </li>
</ul>
<p>The answers to all of these questions and more determine how effective our worship is and how successful our love life is. As mentioned before, this impacts every area of our lives, relationships, finances, ministry, even health. </p>
<p>I hope that whether you’re rekindling a flame or fueling a fire that the heat is on in your relationship with God. Having a good love life with Him makes your natural life more enjoyable for you and those around you, whether a significant other, family member, professional or ministry partner, or friend. God wants you to be happy and to prosper in life. Maximize the opportunity by starting with your heart. Every day, be intentional about walking in love and enjoy where it takes you! <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> </p>iWorship Blogtag:iamkeisha.com,2005:Post/39909892016-01-15T14:49:30-06:002022-03-04T06:38:44-06:00Who's Your Focus?<p> Over the years, I’ve been in many worship experiences, public and private, from concerts, church services, retreats, and Bible studies to car drives, rehearsals, hangouts with friends, and more. I’ve learned about worship and “how it works” per say for various kinds of people. From perceiving congregational cultures, discerning atmospheres, conversing with individuals, to even analyzing my own heart, I’ve learned that although “worship” may be happening, it does not mean that God is the focus of it. My goal in this blog is to direct your attention to God as the center of your worship by addressing some things that could be a hidden distraction. <br> You may be wondering, “If God is not the focus of worship for some, who or what is?” I’m glad you asked. Here are four of the most common things I’ve seen people unintentionally make the focus of their worship: <br><strong>· Atmosphere <br>· People <br>· Methods <br>· Self </strong><br> Sometimes, there’s so much focus on the sound, the music, and the overall presentation in efforts to “set the atmosphere” that the focus shifts from the Holy Spirit Himself to everything else, causing people settle for natural energy instead the authentic presence of God. If we focus on God filling us, we don’t have to be concerned with God filling the room. <br> Often, people become the focus of worship because whoever is leading is operating based on the preference of the congregation or the congregation only responds based on the leader. People even get focused on each other sometimes. Jesus is the “Chief Worship Leader”, so we should follow His lead and example, lest the whole experience becomes about us, not Him. <br> Have you ever met someone who is a worshipper of “worship”? I have. They tend to be obsessed with everything surrounding worship, but they never actually do it. Instead, they fall in love with the emotions they feel or perhaps the methods of worship. They may idolize their favorite songs or singers, or ways of expressions, but find it challenging to expand beyond that. You can listen to worship music, read worship books (or blogs), discuss worship, attend worship services and more, but be sure to never love the way more than the One…Christ. <br> The most commonly denied is self-worship. This happens whenever someone puts God’s worship in a box called the comfort zone. Essentially, one is saying, “I know what You desire God, but I’m just not comfortable” or “I just don’t feel like it”. At that point, the person is no longer prioritizing pleasing the Lord, but choosing to do what feels good. <br> That being said, I hope this enlightens you to examine your heart. When you worship, is your mind really on Christ? Is He really the object of your affection and the focus of your attention? Are you moved by the music and possibly the rituals, or by the true presence of the Living God? If so, that’s awesome! If not, dig deeper until everything fades and all that matters is Him. As the Father is seeking for true worshippers (John 4:23), we must always be mindful to seek the True God in our worship.</p>iWorship Blogtag:iamkeisha.com,2005:Post/39903662016-01-15T10:04:15-06:002018-02-08T08:26:32-06:00More Than Music<p> Anyone who knows me knows that worship is a huge part of my life, in fact it is my life. My goal is to continue pursuing a deeper encounter with Jesus and to inspire others to do the same. However, one can’t if there’s no understanding of what worship is. Therefore, I’ve dedicated this blog to bring some clarity on the topic and hopefully ignite a desire to seek God more. <br> Although there are many ways to explain what worship is, I’ll start by explaining what it is not. Worship is not playing instruments, singing, dancing, serving people, nor any other act alone. Even as a singer, I’m mindful that worship is more than music. These outward expressions are in response to an inward experience, which is where worship happens. Worship is the connection between God and His beloved. It’s when His Spirit links with yours for a divine exchange. You pour out intimate adoration from inside, then He pours in His very presence, which gives you more to pour, and the cycle continues. <br> Worship, therefore, is a state of living or being versus mere emotional stimulation. It is spiritual oneness with God. It’s the constant need to be near Him and for Him to dwell within you. This involves another aspect, which is sacrifice. We must consistently crucify our inner carnality that is part of our human nature due to the fall of man in Genesis with Adam and Eve. In the Old Testament, animal sacrificing was an expression of worship. However, through the story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-18), we learn that in worship, sacrifice means nothing if your heart is not attached to it or it costs you nothing. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>“When the music fades, all is stripped away and I simply come, longing just to bring something that's of worth that will bless Your heart, I'll bring You more than a song for a song in itself is not what You have required. You search much deeper within through the way things appear. You're looking into my heart.” – Michael W. Smith </em></strong><br> <br> To worship by God’s standards, we must know God, which means to love, serve, and actually “like” Him. As with people you like, it’s a pleasure to “hang out” with God and intentionally stay in touch with Him. When you want to connect with anyone, you put forth the effort. Because “it takes two”, God made unrelenting strides to connect with us by wrapping Himself in the body of Jesus, coming into our world, and overcoming anything that could separate us from Him! He took the first step to meet us where we were. Worship begins with taking the following step toward a daily relationship with God through accepting Jesus Christ as The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Worship is maintaining a heart that God can live in, which means keeping it clean and available for Him to enter and reside. <br> I hope this has shed some light on what worship is for anyone who was either unsure or misinformed, though it cannot all be captured in a blog. Often, people mix up worship other things, forgetting that it’s a lifestyle for believers. If you’re not yet a believer, I challenge and encourage you to take a step toward God by accepting Christ and how He died at Calvary. I bet you will enjoy knowing Him with every step closer! Because of His love, He sacrificed for us. What better gift to offer God but your heart, your most valuable asset? Life doesn’t have to stop for you to worship, but this offering can occur any time because it is a continual conversation with God. Sometimes, you will pause everything to reach Him, but know that He’s always present and interested in hearing from you. He loves you and wants your heart to be His home, so welcome Him with worship!</p>iWorship Blog