Do you ever wonder what God might feel when He hears our praise rise to Him? How does He look or feel when worship hits His ears and it catches His attention so that He turns and acts on behalf of it? This past Sunday, I got a picture of how it might feel.
My beautiful teenage daughter, though she is incredibly strong, can be on the quiet side, unless she is comfortable with you and her surroundings. When it comes to worship, she is still learning to press in and worship Jesus for herself. On a recent Sunday during church, I heard a sweet soft voice singing, “all my life, you have been faithful. All my life, you have been so so good…” It was quiet, but tender and honest. Even in her soft singing, surrounded by hundreds of people in the sanctuary, the loudness of the band and worship team, she had my full attention. I could hear her voice worshiping our beautiful God.
With my hands lifted high in worship, I leaned my ear into her to listen some more. With a smile beaming from ear to ear, I was ready to turn to her and start telling her how proud I was of her. I wanted to encourage her in the truth of God’s word. It was as if I wanted to offer her the world! Of course, I did not do that, but boy, if she had asked, I probably would have. In that tender moment, I felt the Lord impress on my heart, “that’s how I feel when My people worship me.”
I could not help but smile even bigger because I felt like I had a glimpse of His heart. In my humanness I was ready to offer the world to my daughter by listening to her praise God. How much more does our Father in heaven, who has all authority, power, love, grace, and mercy bend His ear to hear our worship and give us everything we need at that moment? Whether our worship is through our tears, dance, shouts of joy, sadness, or sweet and tender whispers, He hears and responds with His presence. He gives us His full attention! Isn’t that marvelously beautiful?
As I write this, I am staring at the stunning desert hills surrounding my home in North Phoenix, Arizona. The desert bushes are green and from the ground shoot giant cacti that point to the light blue, clear sky that is touching those desert hills. Every time I stare at this view, I think of how God spoke into existence this stunning creation I get to stare at daily. One word, and it existed. He has given it to me to enjoy. So, the fact that the all-powerful, creative God would lean in to hear my praise and find delight in it is mind-blowing and yet beautifully comforting all at the same time.
He hears us! Let me say that again, He hears us! Every time we worship, no matter how loud or quiet, when we worship Him, He leans in, hears, and responds. I pray your heart will find comfort in this truth today. May you experience Him leaning into you right where you are as you lean in to worship Him.
