Worship When It Hurts

We've all been in difficult places, uncomfortable circumstances, awkward settings, and above all surrounded by people we wouldn't trust to take out our trash, much less expose our wounded hearts to in a public arena, church or otherwise. After all, we've seen first hand and experienced for ourselves the kind of "brotherly love" a local assembly is capable of in a time of spiritual famine and or in a moral breakdown. When we're most venerable and our spiritual tank is most empty, the enemy uses any and every weapon to finish us off.

If the adversary can steal our worship, he has effectively cut off our supply line and source of strength. It is a churchy thing to say, "The joy of the Lord is my source of strength," but, the Lord does indeed take pleasure in His people when they worship Him, and it is true, "He inhabits the praises of His People." The thief comes to steal everything else, so watch out for your worship. If he steals your praise and your worship is shut off, he has stopped the life-flow and it won't be long till your vitals will begin to diminish and ultimately you'll fade into darkness.

Worship is the bond the enemy hates most. It's our strongest defense. When we worship, we're camped out in the secret place of the Most High and we are at ease in the shadow of the Almighty. Nothing and no one can hurt us there. However, when we've given up ground to the enemy, it is a painful task to break through enemy lines and run for our freedom. It is risky! Those church people are gonna look at me, that preacher might embarrass me, they don't even lift their hands at this church, what if they ask me to leave... Oh the battle in the mind when we get even a glance of truth and freedom. Like a POW we can taste it. We'd make a break for it, but the enemy keeps us in bondage with lies, intimidation, and torture.

So, "Worship When It Hurts" is abandoning every fear, every thought, every lie, every ounce of pride and making a break for it. You're running after Jesus despite the crowd. It doesn't matter anymore. Deep cries to deep, Father hears you and drops everything to get to you. You reach for the last ounce of faith in your being and God responds, crushing the enemy's head again and again like Rambo and as you cry, "Abba," He breaks your chains and sets you free. He cradles you in His arms and as you worship, life begins to flow again and you saved.