Put Your Hands Up In The Air! ... Seriously, You Might Even Like It...

Scripture:

Psalm 111:1-3

1 Praise the Lord!

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,

in the company of the upright, in the congregation.

2 Great are the works of the Lord,

studied by all who delight in them.

3 Full of honor and majesty is his work,

and his righteousness endures forever.

Observation:

I feel convicted when I read this. What does it mean to give thanks to the Lord with my "whole" heart? When was the last time I really reared back and praised God with all I have? Because of my experience in a fairly staid corner of Christ's church, I am a bit suspicious of placing the value of worship upon outward postures or how much I'm "feeling it".  

What if it is not God who is missing out though? 
What if God receives our worship no matter how it is offered, 
but grants us a variety of forms of worship for our own growth and edification?

Perhaps I can't worship the Lord with my "whole heart" unless I do so "in the company of the upright, in the congregation." 

That would be so like God: 

to save me from the one-dimensional existence of the un-holy trinity (me-myself-I) by attaching me to Others (God and neighbour) in right relationship.

Application:

This scripture feels like an invitation to press into the richness of our faith's expressions of worship: 
from quiet, contemplative, to the transcendently rocking. 
I hear God inviting me to lose myself in the experience of a 3 dimensional faith. 

Sound like fun? 

I sure this'll be a "the-more-the-merrier type deal."

Prayer:

Artist God, You delight in rich variety. Thank You for pouring Yourself into the work of Creating, Sustaining and Thriving Your creatures. Help me to find my place in the great chorus of Your song. Amen.