"A glorious throne, exalted from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary." Jeremiah 17:12
I imagine it's a funny thing.
When a person with little or no church background walks into Church at the Bay for the first time and sees a band on stage, rocking their hearts out for Jesus. People in the auditorium are clapping and singing along, the lights are moving and the words of the songs are flashing on the screens.
It can't seem all that different from a Sugarland concert.
But then, when that first-time guest looks on stage at the singers, they notice something different. The singers' eyes are not reaching the audience's. And the audience, for that matter, isn't directing their attention to the singers'. For the most part, eyes are closed and heads are lifted up to the rafters.
Who, or what, are we singing to? To the guys in the light box in the back?
The difference between corporate (all-together) worship and concerts, even Christian, is in the audience. With musical performances, the musician seeks to connect with and please the audience through the music. With worship, the music isn't the end game. It's simply a venue, a conduit, for expressing grateful praise to God.
So, the eyes closed, the head lifted or bowed, the hands raised--these physical acts are all directed toward a God who promises to hear our praise and (even this!) to draw near to us when we worship with truthful hearts.
When I'm on stage singing, or in the third row of the auditorium on Sunday and my lids close over my eyes, where do I go in my head? In my heart? How do I picture this God to whom I direct my praise?
The most frequent place I go, mentally, is to His throne room. Revelation 4, Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1 all have vivid descriptions of the glorious throne room of God. If you need some help visualizing the awesome dwelling place of God, read these passages and let them fill you with an excited anticipation for the next time you address God, in prayer or in worship.
For me, the words are not just words to be sung because that's what we do in church. Our worship time together is a dynamic, real-time opportunity to push aside the me-centeredness that so often drives my thought-life and actions and to allow my spirit the chance to give God the attention He deserves.
God is not some far-off politician who checks the fan email and is happy to see we're still sending Him our vote. When we set our hearts to pray, or to sing songs of praise, He promises to be present in those actual, real-time moments.
To receive our heart-cries.
To direct His attention our way.
To even allow us to sense His holy presence more clearly and more powerfully.
It takes faith to believe that we have an audience with God when we pray and when we sing. It's so much more than some yoga visualization exercise--this privilege, to address the King of Kings, is an invitation extended to us and made possible by the forgiveness of Jesus.
So the next time you quiet your heart to pray or show up for worship on Sunday morning, come with a heart prepared to stand, forgiven, before the throne room of the Lord.
And then sing your heart out.
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