Monday, August 06, 2007
LETTING GO OF OUR BALLOONS!
I learned not long ago about a pastor who tried something innovative to encourage his parishioners to become more intentional about praising the Lord. One Sunday morning, prior to the worship service, the pastor asked the ushers of the church to give each churchgoer a helium balloon. Parishioners were instructed to release their balloons at some point in the service when they felt like expressing praise to the Lord.
Since theirs was a formal and traditional church, congregants were not comfortable saying “Praise the Lord” or expressing their praise apart from the liturgy. The preacher thought this might be a good way to encourage his flock to show spontaneous praise to God. He also thought it might be a non-threatening way to loosen up his stuffy saints. And it seemed to work: all through the worship service, as people felt praise in their hearts to God, they let their balloons go. By the end of the service, there were quite a few helium balloons on the ceiling. But notably, when the service concluded, the preacher noticed that a third of the balloons were unreleased; people would not let their balloons go!
How about us? Have we been slow to release worship and praise to the Lord? In Ps. 150:6 we find this exhortation: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” Is there breath within us? Then let us determine to praise the Lord.
Since theirs was a formal and traditional church, congregants were not comfortable saying “Praise the Lord” or expressing their praise apart from the liturgy. The preacher thought this might be a good way to encourage his flock to show spontaneous praise to God. He also thought it might be a non-threatening way to loosen up his stuffy saints. And it seemed to work: all through the worship service, as people felt praise in their hearts to God, they let their balloons go. By the end of the service, there were quite a few helium balloons on the ceiling. But notably, when the service concluded, the preacher noticed that a third of the balloons were unreleased; people would not let their balloons go!
How about us? Have we been slow to release worship and praise to the Lord? In Ps. 150:6 we find this exhortation: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” Is there breath within us? Then let us determine to praise the Lord.
Recently, while driving a remote stretch of highway, I put on some praise music and began to sing to the Lord. I was worn out and weary and in a spiritual desert of sorts. While driving through the barren countryside, I felt prompted to lift up my voice in praise of the Lord. I experienced liberation and jubilation as I lifted my heart and voice to God. Indeed, as I began to offer shouts of praise to the Lord, it was as if a dam broke and refreshing floodwaters of God’s grace washed over me. I rediscovered that heartfelt praise can be truly liberating.
Whether we find ourselves on a spiritual mountaintop, in the valley of discouragement, or somewhere in between, let God’s people determine to heed the words of the psalmist and praise the Lord. Intentionality is the key, as we purpose to worship and praise God for His glory and our good.
To paraphrase the psalmist: let the balloons go!
To paraphrase the psalmist: let the balloons go!
