Our church does a 24 hour prayer event at the end of January. People can sign up for an hour time slot and then they spend that hour in the church praying and listening. This accompanies a time of fasting as well. The 24 hours ends with the monthly prayer meeting, also a place for people to share their experience.
My prayer time was on Sunday afternoon and when it came time for me to leave, Ellie asked if she could come along. I know I should have immediately answered, "Yes! Of course!" and looked at it as a time of teaching and been thankful that my 6-year old wanted to come with me and pray for an hour.
My first response was to try to talk her out of it, though. I hesitated and repeatedly pointed out that I was committed to be at the church for ONE WHOLE HOUR in prayer, not playing, but my argument fell on deaf ears as she continued to beg to come, promising that she would be quiet and pray and would not ask me when it was going to be time to leave.
I relented and she hopped in the car.
When we arrived, we walked through each room of the church, praying for the events that happen in the room, the people who enter and leave it throughout the year, the people who lead in it. I was surprised at the way she prayed out loud in some of the rooms, epecially those she frequents herself on a Sunday morning or during AWANA. After we had made our way through, we ended in the prayer room where I put on some music I had brought along and got out my journal.
She wandered around the room while I read my Bible, prayed, listened, and journaled. Occasionally, she would draw. I could tell once she wanted to ask if we were finished, but she settled herself on a couch and listened to the music instead.
Kari Jobe's song, "How Majestic" began to play through the speaker and not long into it, I noticed Ellie had gotten off the couch and was beginning to gently sway around the room. Her arms went up above her head and she said, "Join me, Mom."
What??
No, thanks. Isn't dancing outlawed in Baptist churches? What if the people scheduled to pray after us showed up early and saw me? What if I tripped, sprained an ankle, and had to explain by saying, "Well, I was dancing in church...."
But I looked at her, singing and dancing before her Lord, her Abba Father, in a recital for her audience of One. While my heart still held reservations that came from years of jaded church experiences and hurts and an overall self-conscious way of worshiping because someone may judge me, her experience was truly that of a child. Caught up in music of praise, knowing she has a God who loves her, she gave her offering of worship with abandon.
How do I do that?
How do I throw off everything and worship freely?
I stood and joined her. We held hands and circled, singing along with Kari Jobe. We twirled pirouettes as tears wet my cheeks. Oh, the joy! If the Moores arrived early for their assigned hour, they may find us crazy, but who cared at that point? Not me and certainly not Ellie.
My daughter taught me an important lesson that day. She helped me remember who it is at the receiving end of my praise, who it is I sing to. He just wants me to come to Him, worship Him. He lifts my heart and my head and my soul.
"All rise
All rise
In highest praise
Your name
Will reign through all eternity
Our hope
Our strength
Our victory
We bow down
At your feet
How majestic is Your name
How majestic is Your name
Jesus
Wonderful, powerful
You're the Lord of all
How majestic is Your name."
Kari Jobe, "How Majestic"
"Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the godly!
Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
Let them praise his name with dancing,
making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with salvation.
Let the godly exult in glory;
let them sing for joy on their beds."
Psalm 149:1-5
