Yield to the Spirit

Last Sunday, before I preached, I had a moment of confession. I confessed that every now and then that even pastors want to stay home. I shared the prayer that I uttered on the way to church, “God, I really could have stayed in my bed this morning, but I'm on my way. So, God, I pray that you would move. I pray that the choir would worship and that their worship would minister to us and move us to where you would have us be.” And then I shared the contagious nature of worship. That as the choir began to worship in the opening praise selection, my soul was lifted. I cited Psalm 22:3, noting that God inhabits, God dwells in, and God takes residence in the praises of God’s people and how even when we don't feel like it, we should give God praise anyhow. Because our praise is an invocation and when we praise, God literally shows up.

Many of you came to me after worship to see how I was doing, to make sure that I was okay, so I wanted to address the moment in this space. I was good at the point when I made the confession. In fact, I shared my feelings not to garner sympathy, but rather to highlight the power of worship.

First, I wanted to remind ALL of us that even when we don’t feel like it, we should press our way into worship because God will meet us in worship. In that way, worship is transformative.

Secondly, I wanted to remind the choir and musicians that their ministry has great kingdom significance. Many enter the doors of our church feeling low, ready to quit, laden with grief, and perhaps even teetering on the brink of life and death. When the choir and musicians recognize the ways in which God can use them, God will use them. I am a witness! I would not have had the strength to stand, had the choir not yielded to the Spirit. Let’s continue going higher in worship!

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah