Have you ever watched someone worship and wonder, “How do they do that?” I have. I think I have “worship envy.” Maybe it was my upbringing in a conservative church environment, maybe I care too much what people think, maybe I have never totally surrendered myself to worship. The reality probably lies somewhere in between.
As I read the Book of Ezekiel, I found myself in awe again of someone so sold out for God that he was willing to do whatever to get God’s message across. Ezekiel was “All In.”
If God said lay in the street on your left side for 390 days and then on your right side for 40 days…Ezekiel did it (to teach a history lesson). If God said shave your head and divide your hair into three piles to explain a prophecy…Ezekiel did it. If God asked Ezekiel to NOT mourn the passing of his beloved wife as an example to the Jews…he managed to do it.
God said, “Teach” and Ezekiel had the responsibility to teach the captive Jews discipline to follow their God. Discipline doesn’t always have a positive feel to it, so I looked it up for us.
Discipline
1) Training to insure proper behavior;
the practice or methods of teaching and enforcing acceptable patterns of behavior.
2) Training that corrects, molds or perfects the mental faculties or moral character.
The Israelites found themselves in captivity…again. Sometimes we think God isn’t paying attention to our lives when times get hard. I think it is just the opposite. Those hard times are to drive us toward Him. How do people survive without God? We were created to need Him. If we leave Him out then we deny a very important part of ourselves.
God sent Ezekiel to help the Jews adjust to their captivity. He gave them hope to carry on and a way to return to a right relationship with God. “God never forgets those who are faithful to Him” (pg 25). He won’t forget you either.
Do YOU know Ezekiel’s God? Ezekiel 16:62 says,
“I will establish my covenant with you, and YOU shall know that I AM the LORD.”
God’s promise to establish His covenant was for anyone who would obey Him and follow His commands. That’s what the name LORD means.
As we see in Ezekiel’s story, there is not one sedate and reverent way to worship God. Neither is there always craziness associated with worship of the LORD. Worship happens as we seek His face. As we offer our lives to Him, He chooses how to express His love to us. Give your life to the ONE TRUE GOD and be part of the Body of Christ.
If you search for the I AM, you will find Him…He wants to be found.
Let’s PRAY:
We come into Your presence to acknowledge that YOU are LORD. You are Sovereign and You know what is best for us. Thank You for loving us enough to reveal Your character to us. Ezekiel has shown us that You can breathe new life into our dry, dead lives if we only have faith in YOU. Change our hearts so that we can more fully submit to YOUR will and not ours. We want to worship you in freedom. Lord, teach us! We love you, LORD.
AMEN
About Teresa Bolme
“As odd as Ezekiel seemed to the other Jews and to the Babylonians, he was respected for his commitment to his God.” (pg. 24) Teresa, I too came from a conservative church and my husband even more so. When we were baptized in His Holy Spirit our world of worship opened up! But no matter how similar or different my worship may appear to others, I want to be known for my commitment to my God. That commitment is based on my love for God and choosing to obey His commandment to love others. John 14:34, “A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” So as “crazy” as I may appear in worship sometimes, I pray that my love for God and for others shines brighter.
I, too, want to be known by my commitment to God. I choose to love, even when it hurts me. I choose to obey God, even when it separates me from those around me. Thank you for your heart of worship. You are an example to us all.
Here recently the Lord has been placing on my heart a call to worship him, recklessly and unashamed. I usually only pour out my heart in worship in dark settings. (Easier to focus and I didn’t have to worry about people watching me.)
The Lord showed me that if that’s what I think true worship is, then what have I been doing on Sundays? Honestly, singing songs and watching people around me. Enjoying worship if I liked the songs, not so engaged when I didn’t and my mind wandered like crazy.
No more, though. worship is about God. He has shown me the error of my ways. I answered his call and now, I worship regardless of song, light or people around me. I like when God corrects me gently and I listen. 🙂 And I love that in Ezekiel God sent his prophet, even knowing exactly what he was dealing with and what it would take (Ezekiel 2:3-5.)
Ahmee, I love your heart. I love your convictions. But most of all I love your heart for God and seeking what He truly values for our lives. He has such a plan for you, my friend.
don’t we so want to live each moment of our lives “all in” as ezekiel? i pray today for every one of us that we will choose to fully and freely worship our God, the Great I Am—however that looks—with our whole heart, our whole soul, our whole mind, and all our strength, just like we love Him!
…looking forward to knowing more about Him as we journey through the Book Of Ezekiel with you this week, teresa. xo <3
YES, I want to be “all in” with my relationship with God. The “I AM” has called me and I want to obey. Now, for the courage to walk out that commitment. Love you, friend.
Yesterday I was very unsettled. Don’t know why, just something in me. The message at church was about seeing, but not really seeing. I have been faithful for several years in being in His word, praying, studying, reading the Bible, always being in a bible study, whether at church or here online. Am I listening but not hearing? Am I seeing but not seeing? Is the busyness of my day getting in the way? Is the constant chatter of the world around me interfering with the reception? I don’t know, but I would have to say probably.
I truly want to hear His voice.
If that is the message you are feeling in your spirit, then it is time to take a short break. Take time to be still, whether you get a day, a weekend or longer. You will never be the same after you take that time away to really listen.
I totally agree with you Teresa. Until the grand children go back to school that is not an option, but I am looking forward to a time when I will have a quiet house again during the day.
I am an all in worshipper hands in the air etc. one day I just couldn’t stop them. My daughter is beautiful to watch worship on stage every Sunday. God is so good and Ge quenches my thirst every moment. I’m in awe of the peace I am given even in the mess we are dealing with. Thank you Teresa!! Love love!!
I want to be like you when I grow up!
Your insight and writing is so incredible, Teresa! Thank you for writing about Ezekiel’s willing obedience. What an example! I love this song, too, and kept singing it in my head all last week! Thank you!
You are very kind. My passion has always been to allow the Word to penetrate my heart so that whenever I was given the opportunity, I could share it plainly with anyone. The Bible is not just for scholars. It is for everyone who wants to know the I AM.
When I pass on, I want my family to make comments like “She loved God so very much”. I want them to see that in my actions, not my words. I want them to say that they drew nearer to God because of what they saw in me, and how God had worked in my life. I want my legacy to be one of drawing others nearer to Him. Ezekiel is an amazing man. I want to learn more from him!
Your friends and family WILLsay that about you. The problem is…will they have the courage to say it while they still have you. I pray your loved ones will appreciate the treasure they have in you. <3
Theresa. Yes God never forgets us and it reminds me that during those hard times He is with us, He but cares more about giving us opportunities to draw closer to Him. Love the video and needed at the verr time I hit play this morning. I have always loved that song but really hit me this morning. Thanks
I’m so glad this song speaks to you, too. “Power and Presence of the Great I AM” wakes me up every day and sings me to sleep every day and night for more than a month now. Such a sweet blessing.
Beautiful lesson today Teresa
When I worship I feel like I’m on another planet…when God speaks I am gonna praise Him. he is calling me, drawing me to His presence many times during the day and I can’t help but lift my hands, lift my voice, and lift my Lord in praise…how peaceful it is when you obey Him when He says praise me, even when He calls you to praise Him in the storms!!!
It is so good to have you back with us Beverly. Your take on Praise and Worship is wonderful. I have so much to learn from you.
Thanks Teresa it is good to be back with everyone! Just lift those hands and voice to Him girl, that is where our learning is found….