Wherever we start, can we end up praising God?

Every day we’re asking four questions about part of the Bible. Today Bern Leckie answers:

What did I like about today’s passage?

Have you ever not gone to church because it didn’t feel right that day? Or gone a bit late because you wanted to go but praising God just wasn’t something you felt in a proper mood for? I know I have. I’ll sometimes blame it on not being a morning person generally (I’m really not, and I normally write these at night…) but I admit that sometimes I’m put off by the thought that other people will be far more into it and I’ll be embarrassed by feeling like an imposter in the crowd. (Remember crowds? Singing together? Simpler times!)

You’d be right to criticise me here for making worship of God somehow all about me and how I feel. I know. But doesn’t God want us to come into his presence as we are, with whatever is in our hearts? What if that isn’t an immediate “Thank you God!” or anything which might be shared by a bunch of other people at Service Time o’clock on Sunday?

This diverse range of Psalms is encouraging me. I believe each is a Spirit-inspired meeting with God, and each seems to map a different personal path into God’s presence and praise. I’m picturing these five Psalms as five people worshipping, all very different. Maybe you’ll recognise some of them?

Psalm 98 is going straight for it, arms aloft, tambourine in hand. Is that you on a Sunday? I miss you. Psalm 99 bears international affairs in mind, might have been listening to the news on the way in. (This is probably me.) Psalm 100 doesn’t say much but knows they are blessed and thankful. Psalm 101 is clearly feeling holy, and while it could sound unnervingly self-righteous, if it’s Spirit-fuelled, it’s more a reflection of God’s heart and a direction for looking forwards. Psalm 102 couldn’t sound any more different. Coming from brokenness, it still gets guided by the Spirit into recognising God, praising him and declaring deep truths about his enduring nature while everything else, including troubles, will perish.

Maybe it’s this last one, most of all, which amazes me at what God brings together even when we feel different, separated, not enough “into it”. It seems like, wherever we start from, there is a Spirit-led path to connection with God and when we take it, we can’t help it if praise starts to come out.

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

God is so different from being a product of our diverse needs and wants. Some people need many gods to reflect that. Instead, he is one God drawing everyone and everything together, even (especially?) on days we don’t feel like it or, like today, physically can’t meet.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

Invite the Spirit to guide me to praise in worship time today and express thanks as they come to mind. I know there’ll be other words to sing, but there’s time for the rest too.

Who am I going to share this with?

My family. They’re the only ones who will hear unless we shout REALLY LOUDLY (we might!)