More?

I’ve loved the last few sessions of worship I’ve been involved in. (We'll leave the fancy words behind for a change) They have called to my attention – God; and with my family, I’ve sung out to Him because of X amount of reasons culminating in Him being worth it, or worthy. Brilliant.

I get increasingly excited about gathered times of exalting Jesus. I want each time to be more awe-filled and intimate than the last. So I ask myself: 

 What can we do that takes us deeper in truth?

 How can we get out of the way so people can tune into the speaking voice of God and be reassured by His comforting Spirit?

 How can we help people who engage with God in different ways to meet with Him?

What’s right for this gathering? Celebration? Repentance?

I love all of this, I need to grow in all of this, but I get frustrated. I want more, I want the real thing. We love to sing and surrender, we love to live our lives for the glory of Him who is able, but more and more I identify with the phrase ‘now and not yet’.

'If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy, I can only conclude that I was not made for here' C.S Lewis

If all we have to look forward to is better introductions, more creative artwork, slicker productions and more thought provoking lyrics then I’m out. I want our gathered worship times to host the presence of God. To give us more and more of an idea of what it might be like when nothing holds us back from Him. To know God like Adam did – naked and unashamed.

The trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

I love the story of a well-known lead worshipper sprinting around an empty car park because there were no words left that could satisfy their hunger for God. In preparing for my next service I sometimes struggle that however pleasing our worship to Him is and however much we hear from God, there is still more. Am I just greedy with God? We have to do everything we can to allow the presence of God to dominate our times together, but no amount of planning can take the place of the euphoria of being with Him in Spirit and in Truth.

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

 Jeremiah 29