MK

For grace came down to set us free.

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Beautiful Jesus | Jonathan & Melissa Helser

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And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. Your ancestors who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Deuteronomy 10:12-22

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How Much Greater

I start my new job tomorrow and leading up to today, I’ve been in a state of anxiousness and fear. It feels like I’m starting my first day of school all over again.

Throughout the preparation process, my parents have been so supportive and loving that I broke down in tears (not in front of them though haha). I see their tired faces and heavy hearts, but yet they continued to sacrifice so much of their finances, time, and efforts for me… again and again. My heart broke seeing how much they pour into me and I can’t even give back half of what they’ve given me.

This moment reminded me of our Heavenly Father. If this is my earthly parents’ love, how much greater is the Heavenly Father’s love for me? So much greater. Greater than you can even imagine.

The thought overwhelmed me completely in tears, joy and thanksgiving.

A Father’s love is truly something that I can’t fully comprehend because of its vastness. But knowing this love brings comfort and assurance to my soul.

“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” – Ephesians 3:14-21

- MK

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How Do You “Give” God Strength?

John Piper shared this article 8 years ago. I read it for the first time one week ago and it really stuck to me since then – an article that is shared in the right season of my life. Since reading this, it changed my prayers and my attitude on different areas of my life. So readers, enjoy. I hope that you become in awe as I was when I read this. 

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-do-you-give-god-strength

“We find the deepest meaning in life when our hearts freely go out to admire God’s power, rather than turning inward to boast in our own—or even think about our own. We discover something overwhelming: It is profoundly SATISFYING not to be God, but to GIVE UP all thoughts or desires to be God. In our giving heed to God’s power there rises up in us a realization that God created the universe for this: So that we could have the supremely satisfying experience of not being God, but admiring the Godness of God—the strength of God. There settles over us a peaceful realization that admiration of the infinite is the final end of all things.”

- MK

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Do You Know Him?

“Knowing God” has been the central theme lately. But the question is: What does it really mean to know him? How do you know that you know God? 

Question of the day to ponder about. Do I have a solid answer to this? Nope not at all. But if you’re reading this and do have a thought or two (or more), I’d love to hear it.

- MK

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Not Just on the To-Do List

I realized something last night. I finished all that I had to do by 10pm at night and I had all this free time. But I already watched all that I wanted to watch and read all that I wanted to read and scrolled through social media all that I wanted to scroll. What else is left to do?

I really wanted to just browse around on YouTube and see what’s there, or start re-watching a bunch of videos. But a part of me was like “Maybe you should sit down and read your bible, and pray.” That part of me knows that I needed that moment to rest in God, be fed, and just enjoy his Word. But the other part of me was like “Oh man, but I already spent morning with you. I already prayed this morning. I already read last night for an hour. That’s already enough.”

Since when did my time with God become a part of my to-do list? When did it become only an hour of my day and that’s it? When did reading my bible and praying once a day became just “enough” to feed myself? It’s easy to talk and see my best friend whenever I want even if I already saw them that day. Even if I was with them for three days in a row. To me, that’s just more time in getting to know my friend and building our relationship.

But shouldn’t we treat our relationship with God in a similar way? It shouldn’t be hard to want to spend time with God whenever I want or to keep growing our relationship. So what if I talked to him 6 hours ago? Talk to him again. So what if I read His word this morning? Read it again.

I don’t want to approach my time with God, thinking “Oh did I already pray today? Did I read today?” but I want to come with a mindset that says “What more can I learn about you? What will you tell me now Lord?” I guess this is just a reminder for me to not treat my quiet time with God as another thing on my to-do list. There’s nothing more joyful than being in the presence of the Lord and listening to Him… just like any best friend but even better.

- MK

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They Want to Hear

Yesterday our bible study group went out on campus to do sharing… and by sharing, I mean talking about the Gospel to students. And yes, I freaked out. Yes, my face looked so scared. Yes, I was ready to fake sick and go home. So many fears and doubts just came pouring onto me but I stuck through it. I didn’t run. Thank God for my group leader who encouraged and went with me!

We only managed to talk to one student with the time we had but it was a good conversation. Unfortunately, it was a bit rushed in the end because she had a group project. But it was so eye-opening to hear her views on religion and life.

When everyone in our Bible study grouped together to talk about our interactions, I was surprised to hear of how many students that sat down and listened. I was even more surprised to hear their perspective on life that is so different than my own. Some were agnostic. Some were still searching. Some were Muslim. Some were not sure. Some saw the meaning of life as living for others, while some sees Jesus as a revolutionary and a leader. Some only heard of half of the Gospel (what?!) and some have never even heard of Jesus! And most were willing to hear our Christian perspective.

I realize that students actually do want to hear and listen to religious views. I find that many Christians (like myself) have this fear that everyone in this world is hostile to faith. Or they don’t want to listen or talk about religion. But that’s not true. Not everyone is like that. Or maybe I'm saying that because I talked to only students who are strangers haha. But perhaps people are willing to engage in polite conversation and are willing to know more, and we're just making them out to be hostile. Perhaps people are not opposed to hearing the Gospel and we're just making the assumption that they'll think we're condemning them. They may not agree with it in the end but maybe they want to hear.

Honestly this experience is so cool and it made me ask myself: “If people are willing to listen, then why have I been afraid for so long? Why didn’t I speak up?” Don’t get me wrong, there will be certain individuals who want to debate and absolutely hate the talk of religion but that certain individual shouldn’t discourage us. There are people out there who want to hear and people out there where God will grow a planted seed. We are to make disciples. We are to make the Gospel known in hopes that they will become believers. Not everyone you meet will instantly believe that Jesus is the answer but it is our hope that we stir up some questions for others to think about and hopefully get them thinking, searching, or considering Christianity. I mean, how often do people ask themselves: What is the meaning of life? What is human nature? Is there an absolute truth? Probably not too many. But ultimately, the rest is up to God. We can plant the seed but God provides the growth and change.

For me, this experience was a reminder of the Gospel in my everyday life and interactions. Don’t be afraid to talk about it when the opportunity arises. Don’t be afraid to stand firm in my beliefs in my everyday decisions. Don’t be afraid to not conform to the world. Don’t be afraid to explain myself when needed. Don’t be afraid to share what I think.

Because believe it or not, there are people in this world who want to hear.

- MK

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Made for Life

We aren’t made for death but for life. We are made to live. 

But our act of sin separates us from God leading to death. For so many years, we had to go through rituals and laws to make ourselves right in order to meet with God.

And then grace came along. Grace tore that veil and bridged the gap between us and God. Grace made a way for us to know God through redemption and blood sacrifice. Grace gave us a second chance to seek Him and know him personally. Grace allowed us to build and have a relationship with him. Grace made a way for us to truly live.

And to live is Christ. We are made for life in Christ. We are made to live righteous which is found through faith and faith alone. We are made to know Christ through the power of his resurrection, participation in his sufferings, and becoming one with him. Everything else in this world will be counted as loss when we know Christ who is of surpassing worth. (Phil 3:7-11)

We are made to live; to live a new life in Christ. So what’s stopping us from truly living? It is not God who has distanced himself from us but it is us who distanced ourselves from the great One. For God is always with us but it is the walls we build that stops us from knowing Him.

This past month, God broke me down to my knees in surrender and humility. He made me aware of the true dark desires of my heart and of the walls I’ve built between me and Him. For so long (more so this year), I built the wall of comparison and approval. Actually, it was more of an idol which became a wall that hindered me from knowing God intimately. I strived to seek significance and reassurance that I was a “good Christian” and a “good daughter/friend/sister” by comparing myself to others and their view of me. Believe me when I say it is a spiritually-sucking deadly wall. I prayed and read my bible, believing that it was in the name of Jesus. I shared and encouraged others, believing that it was because God loves. I craved and succeeded, believing that it was to bring glory to God. But it didn’t.

I prayed and read my bible because I wanted to earn favour from God. I shared and encouraged because I wanted others to see me as the good Christian. I craved for success and became successful but only because I wanted to show how selfishly well I’m doing. I compare myself to others and gain this constant hunger for perfection and significance. I hid these desires down in the depths of my heart, saying that it’s for the name and glory of God but truth is that for me, to live is not Christ… but me.

God came in, shattered my walls, and left me exposed to my true nature. How silly of me to think that I can earn favouritism from God. How stupid of me to think that I am a good Christian through works. How arrogant of me to pray for change while trying to answer my own prayers. How dumb of me to fix my eyes on others for reassurance and satisfaction. How prideful of me to think that I can do what God can do. How selfish of me to surrender to my own heart and ways.

We are not made to live for ourselves and earn salvation. But we are made for life in Christ. We are made to encounter and praise Him. We are made to live righteous. We are made to rely on Him because we are weak. We are made for a relationship with Him. 

So what do we do now? Do not all these things start with knowing Jesus Christ. 

Doesn’t it go back to knowing Christ? When we know Him, we encounter and praise him. You can’t have one and not the other because encounter with Christ leads to a place of surrender which leads to worship.

Guys, this is grace like no one has ever seen before. Grace invited us to know Him and have a relationship with Him. Grace makes us aware of our flesh and accepts that we are sinners by nature. Grace helps us to recognize the sin that harbours in our hearts so that we can take step back from it and take a step closer to God. Grace allows us to see the walls we build and knocks it down through surrender. Grace made a way for us to have new life in Christ – both now and after death.

So forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead. Press on towards the goal. Don’t run looking back or side to side at other people or other things. Run with eyes fixed on the eternal prize.  And as you run, know where you’re placing your faith. Know where your heart is surrendering to. Know Him and only Him. Because it is through faith and faith alone that we can know him, live a life full of life, be righteous, encounter him, and  be changed by his Spirit.

We are made for life and this life is Christ because he is the way, the truth, and the life (John14:6). 

Oh how thankful I am for this gift of life.

- MK

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LETS GO

For my Psychology classes, we have the option of participating in lab studies to earn credits which adds a 4% bonus to our final grade. I did an online study today and it was dreadfully boring and long. Out of all the questions/statements, two of them stood out to me and stabbed me right in the heart.

“Your religious beliefs would not change if you were raised differently.” “Your religious beliefs would not change if you had different teachers, parents, and friends.”

From there, I had to rate how true the statements are to me from “strongly disagree to strongly agree.” I was so stumped on this question and had to think about it carefully. 

Would I still believe in Jesus if I wasn’t raised with a Christian foundation? If I didn’t go to church on a weekly basis? If my parents didn’t believe? Forget believing, would I even hear or know of the name Jesus? I don’t think so. If my parents didn’t believe or forced me into church, I don’t think I would know what faith in Jesus is. If I wasn’t raised in a Christian household, I don’t think I would even consider searching out religious beliefs in my adulthood.

It broke my heart knowing that I wouldn’t know Jesus if my upbringing was different. If I was raised by different parents with different child-rearing practices, then I would have a different social circle and be a completely different person. Even just thinking right now what kind of person I’ll be without Christ, who knows where I’d be?  I am in awe and thanksgiving of what the Son of God has done for us – tearing that veil so that we may know him and the Father. Knowing the Gospel now and how life-changing it is, I would want someone to tell me about Jesus if I haven’t heard of him. And that’s where the Great Commission comes in. We are evangelists. We are called to make Him known in our words and actions.

Am I living out the Gospel? Am I seizing every opportunity to make Him known to others? To friends, family, acquaintances and strangers?

So lets go pray for and with each other. Lets go talk to that stranger down the street. Lets go be proud of our faith. Lets go be bold together. Lets go yell praises to His name. Lets go stand up for justice. Lets go mourn with others. Lets go be joyful of God’s work. Lets go be light. Lets go love the world. Lets go speak up. Lets go talk about the name of Jesus to our friends, family, co-workers and strangers. Lets go seize opportunities. 

What are we waiting for? What are we so afraid of? Jesus called us and now it’s time to go. LETS GO. 

“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18-20

- MK

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Set me ablaze 'til it's all that I know; so that I'll never grow cold. Set me ablaze with a single obsession, with a never-ending passion. Come breathe on the coals of my heart.

Jesus Culture

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Go. And Remember.

That God is faithful.  That God knows what’s best. That God provides.  That God is with you always. 

Go and remember these four truths.

For this is the God that the Israelites followed the moment he led them out of slavery. This is the God in Exodus 13.

1. He was faithful to the Israelites. A promise he made years ago with their ancestors still remains true. 

“When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites - the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey...” - Exodus 13:5

2. He knew what was best for the Israelites. The path that was shorter was the fastest route to escape but little did they know, there was war waiting down that road. God who knew of this led them to a different route. 

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’” - Exodus 13:17

3. He provided for the Israelites. Though God led them to a longer and harder route in the desert, he did not fail to provide so that they may travel safely. Wherever he led them, he provided.

“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.” - Exodus 13:21

4. He was with the Israelites throughout the journey. Never did God leave the Israelites. He was there with them through every sweat and step, giving provisions.

“Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.” - Exodus 13:22

This was our God then and this is our same God now. 

Just as God led the Israelites, wherever he leads you... go and remember this.

- MK

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At All Times

Do you ever just think to yourself: “Yeah, life’s good” but you don’t feel good? Like nothing bad or dramatic is really happening. Things are literally pretty okay but yet, you don’t feel all too okay. 

I know it’s a weird thing to do or think about… but I feel like this is how I am this past month. Everything’s good in the hood but there’s this lack of joy or contentment. 

Maybe it’s because I’m craving for something. Craving for something more. Craving to do more. To be more. Craving for something to move me… or someOne. 

I feel like I’m just going through the motions with no emotions or effort. It’s just the same old thing everyday. The same boring mundane thing. And it’s weird but it really bothers me how I am right now. It’s frustrating. It’s like I’m a robot computerized to do certain tasks and acts every day. 

What’s missing? 

Worship. Maybe that’s what’s missing. Worship. 

Worship in the lowest of lows. Worship in the highest of highs. But also worship in the mundane simple everyday. 

“For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” - John 4:24

Prayer. Words. Thoughts. Wondering. Thanking. Awe-ing (pretty sure this isn’t a word). That’s worship too. For his presence and Spirit is with us wherever we go, so shouldn’t I be worshipping wherever I go? 

So lets stand and take in the beauty surrounding us because God made it all. Lets smile at the thought of Christ because He did for us what no one would ever do. Lets take joy in our daily routine at school or work because it’s a gift of opportunity. Lets seek in the Kingdom in worship and prayer because it’s a time that you’ll value and will come out in awe & wonder. Lets keep the Spirit and Truth on our hearts. Lets walk everyday knowing that we need Christ because he is the way, the truth, and the life. Let our heart and mind be filled with worship. Lets live a life of constant worship wherever we are and whatever we’re doing. Lets worship at all times. 

Worship in the lowest of lows. Worship in the highest of highs. And worship in the simple everyday.

- MK

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Joy through the Ups?

“Always be joyful.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” - Romans 12:12 “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice!” - Philippians 4:4

I think the command to be joyful is quite straightforward. Be joyful. Not just in certain moments, but in all moments. Always be joyful. Simple, right? You heard it before. 

We all know that the hardest moment to by joyful is in our suffering. Because suffering usually means sadness and how can one be joyful when there’s sadness? Can joy and sadness co-exist simultaneously? Can you be sad and joyful at the same time? As much as I like to continue with this question, I shall save this topic for another post (maybe) because I wanted to share a random thought I had.

Often times we hear in our moments of sadness to be joyful in Christ. To continue to sing praises even when it hurts a lot. And you may probably also hear that maybe… just maybe… your circumstances were given so that you can learn to persevere, which builds you to be a better person, and leads to hope. You know the verse: 

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” - Romans 5:3-5

Suffering can be so nasty. It can break you down, make you question all that you believe in, and points the finger at you. But it can also discipline you in a way, right? They can be like teachers. They teach you to persevere. They build you into a stronger person. They strengthen our hope in Christ. They teach us what it means to sing praises and be joyful even amidst the lows of our lives. So if we are given suffering to teach us the meaning of Christ-like joy, then what about the joys in our lives? What if we reverse this logic? 

What if we had everything we wanted, can our blessings be given to teach us the meaning of Christ-like joy? I know you’re thinking: “What kind of question is this?! Who wouldn’t be happy if they’re given blessings and had all that they wanted?!” Trust me, I know. When you get what you wanted, your instant reaction is to be happy. I get it.

But what if you’re not actually happy even with all that you have? There are those who have everything they ever wanted but they’re not joyful as they had hoped to be. Their praises stop. Their prayers stop. Their seeking stops too. Their praises come when suffering comes. Their prayers come when suffering comes. Their seeking comes when suffering comes. Why? You would think it’s the other way around. But maybe in your suffering, you literally have little to zero control that the only thing left to do is to praise, pray, and seek. Where is all that in the ups of our lives?

So if God can put us in bad circumstances to teach us to be joyful and satisfied in Him, then can we be put in such good circumstances that it teaches us what it means to be joyful and satisfied in Him too?

Is this a weird question to ask? I wonder if anyone else thinks the same way I do. But lets leave this post as it is right now because it’s getting late and my mind is ready to rest. In the meantime, enjoy this artist. His songs have been the prayers on my heart - Jon Thurlow. 

- MK

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That’s how pride works. It rejects God’s wisdom. It refuses to listen, or to wait. It insists on its own terms. It listens to God with one ear while looking around for something else to see or something else to do. It can appear polite, even charming, but beneath the surface it’s seething and plotting. Pride may hide itself well, but it shows up in all kinds of places, whether with sticks, or emails, or chores at home. It might gather sticks when God says to rest, and it might leave them on the ground when God says to work. The evil is not in the doing or the not doing, but in the “high hand,” in raising an arrogant hand against God — in deciding we know better than him. That kind of pride might seem safe in small things, but pride is never safe. Do you feel the need to do a little more on your terms, rather than God’s — to work more hours than he gives, to clean that room more times than needed, to always immediately move on to the next thing — not because you really need to, but because you want to? We love the warmth of being noticed and affirmed for our work. We love being in control. Some of us love getting things done just a little too much. We refuse to listen, to wait, to rest. Faith works, but not on its own (Philippians 2:13). Not in its own strength (1 Peter 4:11). We work and rest in reliance on God — trusting his wisdom, obeying his word, battling our pride, and surrendering our way. Pride picks up sticks when God says to rest. Faith waits for the Lord, “more than watchmen for the morning” (Psalm 130:6). Faith puts on humility, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). Faith trusts in his good, wise, and loving plan, even when it isn’t the plan we would have chosen for ourselves.

Marshall Segal, Numbers 15:32-36

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In light of the magnificence of Christ, I see the foolishness of assuming I can earn God’s favor by my good deeds. All of my self-wrought righteousness is as filthy rags, and all I have been given is pure grace. Part of that grace is not giving me everything I ask for. I don’t know what’s best for me. I want easy answers, fill-in-the-blanks, pain-free predictability. I want a paint-by-numbers life.  But God is not after comfortable mediocrity. His artistry is unrivaled. He is creating masterpieces. God brushes unexpected color across the canvas of my life, says “no” when I beg for “yes,” offers his presence when I want his presents — because he has a much bigger plan for me . . . a plan that glorifies him and brings me everlasting delight. God doesn’t grant my every request even when I pray faithfully. But he does promise to satisfy me with his unfailing love as he walks through every trial with me. And in light of his surpassing value, that is a far greater gift.

Vaneetha Rendall Risner

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God in Us

Isn’t it so crazy that the Spirit of the Living God lives in us? Not just around us, but in us. 

“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” - 1 Corinthians 3:16

To think that our Living God... the God of the universe, the God of you and me, the God of authority, the God of nations... lives in me. Isn’t that something to marvel at? Even to this day, I can’t seem to wrap my mind around the fact that the Spirit of God dwells in this sinner.

Though he dwells in me, there are times where I just don’t believe it at all. If Christ dwells in me... if the Spirit of God is with me, then why am I frustrated all the time? Why is it so hard to love? Why are my desires so ungodly? Why is my mind set elsewhere? Why am I so numb to God’s goodness? Why am I so unaware of his presence? Why am I not moved? 

How can I stand here with You and not be moved by You? 

Sometimes, I just feel like I’m at a standstill. Not moving forward nor backwards. 

During these moments, I think of Psalm 42.

“As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, oh God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before Him?” - Psalm 42:1-2

That’s what I want to be. I want to be a deer. I want to be that deer that thirsts so desperately for the Lord. There’s this longing in my heart to be moved by his Spirit. By his Word. By his presence. By his goodness. All of which dwells in me... in this sinner... in this weak heart of mine. 

“There’s a cry in my heart for his glory to fall. There’s this yearning for his presence to fill up my senses. There’s this thirst - a thirst of discipline. There’s this hunger - a hunger for things that are deeper.”

I want to walk fearlessly, constantly in awe of Christ through the mountains and valleys. I want to live courageously, knowing that the Spirit of the Living God dwells in me. I want to love unconditionally, believing that Christ lives in me. I want to worship freely, praising his goodness all of my days. 

For God sent his only Son to die for us and his Spirit to be with us. What a marvelous thing indeed. There’s nothing in comparison that I can do to repay such grace, but to know you more and exalt you. 

So Spirit of the Living God, you are welcome here. Take me beyond. Carry me through because I know there’s still so much more. Let my heart and soul thirst for you like the deer that longs for water. Let my heart and soul be so desperate for you like the blind beggar who would not stop calling out to you.

- MK

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Good Worship

Yesterday I went to the OutCry Tour concert and if you were there, you’d know that it was a pretty big event with the biggest names. Kari Jobe, Elevation Worship, Jesus Culture, and Hillsong - yeah... it was a pretty big deal. These people are one of the most influential worship leaders! After the concert, I was asking around what people thought of it. Some were saying that certain bands “gave them shivers” while others were “too dull”. Some said that Kari Jobe’s set was “too flashy and extravagant” while others thought she was “amazing”. And when Hillsong came on, many were saying that they “saved the best for last”. And it got me thinking: So what made Kari Jobe a good worship leader... or bad? What made Hillsong the “best worship band” ever? What is considered “a good worship” song? What constitutes as good worship?

Is good worship when you get convicted to the heart, start crying with your hands in the air, and can dance/move/raise your hand without caring who’s looking? Is good worship when you feel moved by the way the song’s played to give you goosebumps, by the atmosphere, or by the gazillion emotions you feel in your heart? If “good worship” exists, then there should be a “bad worship”. What’s bad worship? One that doesn’t move you? One that makes you stand there and yawn? One that doesn’t get you pumped up for Jesus? One where you don’t feel convicted, get goosebumps, or feel any emotions? One that leaves you at a standstill?

By saying that there's a good and bad way of worship, aren't we putting worship on some sort of scale from 1 to 10? With 10 being super good worship, 5 being mediocre worship, and 1 being bad worship. A 10 can mean jumping and screaming for Jesus, dancing like no other, raising your hands, crying, and yelling 'Hallelujah' again and again. Maybe a 5 means just closing your eyes, bowing your head, and lip syncing the lyrics. But since when do we put worship on a scale where we rate how good worship is based on our standards?

If worship is the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for God (thanks dictionary.com!), then by saying that there's a good/bad worship means that there's a good/bad way of bringing praises and adoration to God. Again, we're putting this onto a scale of our own. If someone is a 3 on a scale, then that's like saying - “Oh he's worshiping God but not really well... he doesn't look too into it and his actions doesn't bring reverence to God 70 percent of the time. That must means the worship set is not good because he’s not moved enough.” Like... huh? Does this even make sense to you? How do you worship God but not really at the same time? How can you based a ‘good’ worship set on someone’s behaviour?

If worship is recognizing God's power and glory... if worship is singing praises to Him... if worship is exalting the King... then isn't worship more of a “yes or no” thing? It's either you worship or you don't. It's either you recognize God and who He is... or you don't. You can't “sort of” recognize God. You can't “sort of” sing praises to God. You can't “sort of” exalt Him. I don't think you can put this onto a scale. It's either a “yes you worship” or “no you don't worship”. Lets apply this to a specific form of worship, like prayer. Prayer is a form of worship. You don't say that you “sort of” pray. It's either you pray or you don't. You don't tell someone that their prayer was a 4 out of 10 because it wasn't filled with memorized bible verses, not passionate or long enough, and didn't talk about how good God is enough.

Perhaps we're becoming a generation that identifies worship with the external things. When we rate these worship sets as “boring”, “amazing”, or “mediocre”, our ratings are based on our earthly standards and... I don't want to say it but we may even rate based on performance. A hyped up energetic song may get a “Wow that was amazing worship”, whereas a slow country song may get a “Wow that made me fall asleep”.

In the end, I think we need to check ourselves. We need to check our heart of worship. I know I do. Worship is not about the external. It's not about how many hands were raised, how fast or slow a song was, how much flashy lights and instrumentals there were, or how many people were brought to tears. We can all do that but have a hardened heart. We can all do that but not mean anything by it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that these concert events are bad and that you shouldn't go around telling people that it was a good event when they ask how was it. But I think we should probably take a step back and check ourselves when we start rating each worship set and each band. Check our heart of worship because we're called to worship in Spirit and truth. Our worship should be centered around the truth. Our worship should be energized by God's Spirit. We should be moved by God’s Spirit and truth, not Kari Jobe or Hillsong or Jesus Culture. Our heart of worship should be about Jesus and the gospel, not the performance ahead of us. Worship in Spirit and truth. 

“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is Spirit and those who worship him must worship in Spirit in truth.” - John 4:23-24

Honestly, I don't know where this post is going nor do I know if I’m wrong/right but I just wanted to share my thoughts and heart after the OutCry concert. Now I shall grab some juice, go sit down, and hope that my post made sense.

- MK