Should I Raise my Hands During Worship? What Will the Person Next to me Think?

You have attended church. You know the routine. Begin with a few songs, maybe clap a little if others are clapping. Or if you are really bold raise one hand above your head so everyone will know you are worshipping. Do this for 20 minutes and then time for the sermon.

Sound familiar? Well, that was the way I felt every time I went to pretty much any church when I traveled around.

There was very much an atmosphere of wanting to seem "spiritual" but not too weird or out-there.
In this mind frame, there might be one song that spoke very quietly to my spirit and made me tear up, but most often I was very aware of the present world and not the heavenly realm.

Could this be what worship is about? Is this the way God wants me to sing to Him?

What if this mindset makes one miss the point completely of worshipping God?

For me, the key was a few important components to unlocking my worship:

1. Worship with eyes closed and imagine all others are blindfolded.
2. If you see yourself doing something in the spirit (like I might see myself moving my arms in a circle above my head) then do it. By being obedient to God you could unleash something from God or be a channel He is needing to use.
3. Know that there is no "right way" to worship. When I let myself go and really just move for God, there is no commonality to what I am doing. You might feel you should suddenly kneel because God's presence is so heavy on you, for instance.
4. Understand that by being freer during worship you will help others. When I first came to be in a church where people worshipped more freely, I sat back and watched several times. I felt sad when I walked in and uplifted by the true joy shown by the way people were worshipping.

Why not start in your home? Try putting on some praise music - if you do not have any of this type of music just do a general search on youtube and there is tons available. Then move around in your living room as God moves you.

If that still feels too crazy to you - try just sitting and listening to the music then moving as you sit.

By stepping out of your normal routine of worship that you do each Sunday, I guarantee you will have a different and, thereby, have a wonderful experience with God. When I let go, I have revelations, visions, and feel true peace.

Remember praise is a weapon! Do not allow the enemy to weaken your weapon by telling you people are looking at you. Praising God is not about any of them - it is about your amazing God! Let's dance for joy and let Him know how grateful we are for freedom, love, and eternal life!

Pay Attention to What Makes You Feel Defensive...

Did you know that a key way of seeing into yourself and what is still binding you from living the way God wants you to live is to look at what makes you feel defensive?
It's true. Try for a day or two to really be aware if you feel offended or find yourself being defensive in any situation.
Note these things. Then take a few minutes with God and begin to analyze them with God helping you discern.
If I have time, I take a minute immediately after I notice that I have been defensive about something and go through the following steps with God.

1. I acknowledge that I felt defensive. Then I ask God to help me see what was I defensive about. What was the true message underneath my defensiveness?
2. Once I discover the incident, memory, or issue that is underneath the defensiveness I think about the topic (trying to put myself in the situation or memory associated with it). I ask myself, "What am I feeling in this setting?"
3. I acknowledge any emotions I feel (such as: fear, anxiety, sadness, humiliation, etc). Then I take these emotions stating them aloud and say, "In the name of Jesus, fear you leave now. I break all ties you have to this situation."
4. In addition, I pay attention to subconscious statements I might be saying to myself (those core beliefs that are definitely unbiblical such as "I am bad" "I am disgusting" or whatever).
5. I take theses statements and say, "In the name of Jesus you no longer have any power here. I will not think these things again in the name of Jesus. Any strongholds or thought patterns associated with this belief is broken in the name of Jesus."
6. To make sure I am done with this issue, I go back to the original situation in my head that just happened to make me defensive. How am I feeling now? What thoughts am I having? If any negatives still remain I repeat until head is empty and feeling no feelings.

This is truly an amazing and life changing exercise. It is like having years and years of counseling, but in the span of 5 minutes. I can now see why God is called the ultimate counselor. Only He can get rid of the junk that has been in our brains for our whole lives in just a few short minutes. Wow! Praise God!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In this blog I have used material I learned at Wind and Fire Mission Base.

 Wind and Fire Mission Base, 3243 Wind and Fire Dr. Marion, IA 5230230

How to Be Grateful in 15 Minutes

Do you find yourself complaining? Thinking of what needs to be done and how you are possibly going to get it all done? Feeling overwhelmed by life?
I find it is difficult to remember gratitude at these times.
God wants us to enter each day with thanksgiving and praise in our hearts.
How does one get into this mindset? Why not begin with taking 15 minutes over your lunch break or before bed and writing down 25 things that are going well in your life. Then take that list and put it in your Bible to look at each day or perhaps post it on your frig.
Try thanking God for a couple of these things each day. Say, "I am content with where I am at and thankful for ______________." It's true, isn't it? I know it can be hard, but watch how your life changes with just this one simple change!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In this blog I have used material I learned at Wind and Fire Mission Base.

 Wind and Fire Mission Base, 3243 Wind and Fire Dr. Marion, IA 5230230