Aware.

I had a pressing question on my mind...

Why is it that when we are in a corporate worship setting, the level of engagement seems to follow the level of the music tempo or volume? The music is loud and exciting, and it's easy to get excited about how great God is and stuff... But when the music dies down... Why is it so easy to immediately lose focus?

In this case... Are we really worshiping God? Or are we worshiping a moment?

As a worship leader, I try to pick loud and exciting songs that will engage people. And music moves me more than anything else. I've heard God speak to me during worship. That's why this question has been bothering me.

Is it a maturity thing? To learn to be quiet during quiet moments?

Is it a mood thing? I've blogged about having dancing days and kneeling days.... (http://thestoryofmeandmyposse.blogspot.ca/2013/05/you-are-good.html)

Is it a lack of respect?

My mom said we need to have grace for other believers... But I wasn't thinking about how to tolerate it... I wanted to know what the problem was in the first place.

I found my answer in the bridge of a lovely song by Bryan and Katie Torwalt.

The words are, "Let us become more aware of Your presence. Let us experience the glory of Your goodness."

That's the problem, isn't it? We aren't aware enough.

The music is almost like a stepping stone. It makes it easier to feel something that's always there.
But we're so out of tune with the Spirit that when the noise fades, we snap out of the connection so quickly.

If we could all be more aware of God's presence at all times... Not just during exciting worship... I wonder what could happen.

I shared some of these thoughts with a pastor at Tehillah tonight, where God's presence was *so* apparent.

Driving home, my sister said, "I keep meaning to tell all those pastors that they changed my life..."

"But they didn't."

"I mean... Tehillah changed my life."

"Tehillah didn't do it either. See, pretty much what I told pastor Keith when I talked to him today was that I've experienced things at Tehillah that have changed my life, but Tehillah itself is nothing special."

"And what did he say to that?"

"He said that that was a great revelation and that I should teach people what I've discovered."

And so, especially to those who were at Tehillah tonight...
You spoke. You prophesied. You felt God move.

Tehillah was and is a stepping stone for you to have the words to say, the push to get you close enough to feel God... And sometimes we all need that step, that boost... Don't we? I do.

But God's presence? Is ALWAYS there, and always just as apparent when you press in to find it.

Don't walk away from an encounter and wait for the next time... Live in it. Speak. Prophesy.

Be aware.