The greatness of God is overwhelming. We don’t know all there is to know about God but what we do know is overwhelming. As we read the Bible, the revelation of who he is, we learn just a little bit about God. We see that he is perfect love. He is perfect justice. He is perfect patience. He is perfect goodness.
Recently I have been meditating on Psalm 8:3,4: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; what is man that You take thought of him?”
I can kind of understand how the Psalmist felt when I turn my attention to God’s character. When you and I think about God, we are in awe! It’s not just what God has done but who he is! He is beyond our words. Worship not only pours out of our mouths but out of our lives.
Worship, when we meditate on who God is, becomes more than just an expression in song. It is something that every cell of our being joins in on. The voice is not the only part of a person that worships God. We worship God with our feet, with our hands, and with our faces.
I have had many pastors ask, “How do I get my singers to smile during worship?” First, it is important to understand that it’s not image that we are after. A “look” will not facilitate worship. The congregation will not worship just because the singers are smiling. They may respond in some way but they may not be focusing on God in worship.
Secondly, it is not always possible to smile when singing because vowels are formed with the mouth, shaping the sound we make. Rather, facial expression is created more with the eyes. Yes, a smile goes a long way, but the eyes are a great communicator as well. No matter what the words are, the eyes are an important part of visual worship. This is why keeping eyes closed should be minimized. Beyond that, the posture and movements of the entire body can also communicate genuine emotion.
Thirdly, and most importantly, visual expressions of worship must be done in integrity. As was mentioned before, it’s not image that we desire but true visual expressions of worship. This will come as we focus on God. To tell someone to smile or to “express worship” without directing their thoughts to God would be a mistake.
I heard a worship leader once tell a congregation to “get excited” without offering a reason for excitement. Certainly we who know God can be excited and very expressive, but the reason must be clear: God! We appreciate your Comments.
