By Jesse Harper

8:20 AM Sunday morning.

“Come on, we need to go. Sit here, let me put your shoes on.” Coats? Yes. Diaper bag? Check.

8:28 AM.

1 wife, 3 kids buckled in the car, ok, if I roll through enough stop signs, we’ll only miss the first song.

8:40 AM

Ugh, they’re on the third song already.

Hallelujah, All I have is Christ

Hallelujah, Jesus is my life.

These words begin so soft, so subtle, my harried life scarcely cracks a door to let them in my heart, but the massive truth lands nothing short of a wrecking ball into my thoughts, demolishing the lies that my worth and my life is dependent on my accomplishments and comfort. The busyness of life is begun to be set aside by two simple lines. Doctrine spoken through song reorients my mind to reality.

Worship is a free and natural response to a praiseworthy event, object or person. Worship flows so easily when our senses are hit by something beautiful, awesome, lovely or miraculous. God is so full of all these characteristics, that in my fast paced, take care of the kids, keep the boss happy, watch my marriage, get enough sleep life, the sheer breadth and depth of Him can be and often is easily missed. I come to worship service distracted by many cares, but

How deep the Father’s love for us.

How vast beyond all measure.

The Heidelberg Catechism question 1 asks, What is your only comfort in life and death? Worship songs can give an answer to that. Some teach about salvation, some point to God’s glory, some encourage us to love each other, but all speak to the same truth that this world is founded by God, for God.

God wants our true good, and worship of the mighty Father speaks of that true good. Have you ever tingled during a corporate worship time or at a sunrise? That’s nice, but fleeting. God wants joy to the full, joy that doesn’t stop or waver with the circumstances (John 17:13). That joy is not found in a feeling but in a Father. Worship is speaking back to him the truth of who He is and, boy, that is good. There is not one part of God that is not praiseworthy.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

O my soul Worship His holy Name