Month: January 2022

Worship

/ Kimberly Gordon / Leave a comment

Worship is warfare. But not against one another.

We as believers come together to give praise, honor and glory to the Lord of Creation- giving worship to whom it’s due- and in giving praise, we take ground. We push back the enemy. God opens our eyes to areas where we’ve given Satan room to move in our lives and invites us to let God take those areas back.

But it’s so easy to be distracted. Is anyone looking? What will they think if I get on my knees? Or cry? Or jump? Can I walk the aisles praying for our church? Will anyone hear me and think it’s weird if I’m praying in tongues? Am I being distracting? Sometimes we use those things as an excuse to not follow the Spirit’s leading.

Recently I’ve been challenged to step out more in worship to give people the gift of going second. This has been an almost constant battle for me. I feel engaged. I get into the songs. I make sure my heart is aligned with God and open to how He wants to work. And then I want to move. I don’t want to stay in my place- I need space. I want to dance. But it’s not just for me. I need to move because I need to pray. For our team. Over the people. I want to walk the aisles with my hands stretched out, pouring my heart out in intercession.

But many times I don’t because I feel like I would be too distracting. Voices in my head war against one another as one tells me, Make yourself small. You don’t want people to notice you. You want people to be able to focus on God, while the other quietly responds, Yes. But can my worship direct their eyes and hearts to God? Can I help to bring more freedom into worship by giving them the gift of going second?

Worship is warfare.

The battle is in our minds and spirits. And sometimes we need to do battle by making our bodies do something in the physical that shifts something in the spiritual. We take spiritual ground when we take physical ground by responding to God with our voices, our hands, our feet, when we worship with all of our hearts.

So, I’ll put myself out there. I’ll respond to how to Sprit is leading me to worship God. I’ll move. And if I step out and follow the Spirit’s leading, then maybe that will free you to believe you can step out, too. And together we can take ground for the Kingdom of heaven.

Rest

/ Kimberly Gordon / Leave a comment
Photo by Thought Catalog on Pexels.com

When I heard God say that this year was to come from a place of rest, I was confused, and a little disappointed to have that be my word for the year. “Rest” didn’t seem like taking ground, or mighty battles being won, or any big miracles coming through giant leaps forward. Also, I didn’t think it was really possible. I mean, I have four kids 7 and under, and I homeschool three of them, so my workload isn’t super restful.

Last Sunday, Paul Bergin taught at The Belonging Co and that word “rest” got more clarification. I realized that my work was to come from a place of trust in Christ’s completed work. When I trust in Christ’s completed work and victory, I realize that my work isn’t coming from feeling like I have to keep up, or like everything depends on me. Instead I can work from rest.

The Lord has been speaking to me about what He means by “rest”. He means instead of doing things my own way in my own strength, I am to work from His power made perfect in my weakness. He means instead of striving , I am to be content with being loved by Him, filled and clothed with His power and grace. He means instead of resting my faith in my circumstances or surroundings, I am to rest in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:3-5).

So, what He is telling me isn’t, “Hey, take some time off.” He is telling me I needed to rest in Him in order to allow His power to rest on me and work through me. Then I can be more effective in the work He gives me to do because I’m not striving in my own strength but working with His.

Rest begets readiness.

As I rest in the Lord, I am ready, in His strength, for whatever He’s assigned for my day. Rest makes me powerful. As I choose to rest and trust God with my days, I release my grip over my work and allow God to pour the fullness of Himself into me and through me as I work.

I’m realizing that for me this year, rest is taking ground. Rest does mean mighty victories. Rest will result in miracles and giant leaps forward in faith. Because when I rest in Him, God is working.