Over and Over

Hey River!

Last Monday, Nate and I were sitting at the dinner table trying to figure out our Tuesday night set. We hadn’t really considered including “Nothing New” by Brandon Lake; the lyrics were washing over us. I was holding Benjamin, and he gave us such a sweet smile as we sang that my heart just melted. 

I feel like, since then, God has been rewriting my definition of worship. Paul said, “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.” (Romans 12:1). I think we focus a lot on the weight of sacrifice (as we should), but my heart has been drawn so deeply to my son’s sweet smile, my daughter’s wild grin, that I’m reminded that sacrifice is rooted in love. 

What’s so incredible is that the Almighty, perfect, wonderful God desires our imperfect hearts—and His love is just so good our hearts are drawn to back to Him, over and over. Worship is the expression of this mutual love that cycles over and over again. He calls your name and you can’t help but turn to Him with that smile, that warmth in your chest—and what’s even more precious is that all you have to do is turn to Him and He lights up with that smile, with that warmth. 

Remember that worship looks like showing Him you love Him. Show Him over and over, just as He shows you over and over. Just as you desire for your children to know your love for them, He feels even more deeply that your life tells the story of His love for you. We have the honor of participating in this beautiful cycle He started at creation—He reaches out, and He desires for us to reach back. And how could we not? We may feel the weight of sacrifices to show Him we love Him, but how could we hold back anything when His love is so deep, so precious, so wonderful?

-Kaylah

Song List:

He is Faithful by Jesus Culture - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmNLgQr-0wM

Holy Forever by Jenn Johnson -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbMYye-2Yt8

Always on Time by Elevation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1L6zv_ilzY

Nothing New by Brandon Lake- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jxyx7N6Dfkc