Most people are intimidated by participating in praise and worship, but they shouldn't be. Praise and worship is simply honoring God with your adoration and life. Early in my walk with God, I attended a church and during the part of the service where the praise team or choir would bring forth ministerial song, I just sat there staring at them. But on one particular Sunday, I felt like I wasn't supposed to do that. "Lord, how do I worship you?" I whispered, feeling spiritually disconnected from the service. 

 

He spoke, "When the choir or praise team sings praises to me, you close your eyes and remember my goodness toward you. As you do, those memories should help you thank me for who I am to you, and for all that I have done, and continue to do for you."

 

I sat solemnly for a moment, wondering how to praise. "Hallelujah (which means "Thank You") is the highest praise to God," I heard whispered to me in my spirit. Immediately, I closed my eyes and began mouthing softly, "Hallelujah, Lord, Hallelujah." Memories of the goodness and mercies of God began to flood my mind, and my soul was so lifted that my praise grew louder, more rapid, and intense. Before I knew it, I was almost dancing with God as I stood rocking and swaying to the music with my eyes closed and hands uplifted. I had never experienced such joy in my soul before. After the service was over, I went home happy inside. From that day until now, I don't sit and watch the choir or praise team like I am at a concert. The Lord has instructed me to be a praise and worship participant, not a spectator.

 

Over ten years ago, I had been suffering from heart palpitations for almost three months. I had no clue what was causing them, but one Sunday morning the church had to call an ambulance for me. Upon my arrival at the hospital, I was hooked up to an EKG machine and a blood pressure machine, which showed that every time I had a palpitation, my blood pressure would drop, and dizziness would follow. One of my church members had followed the ambulance to the hospital, and she sat with me watching the test results. They eventually referred me to a cardiologist and sent me home with no answers. 

 

I sat out of church fellowship services for three weeks. The Saturday before the fourth week, the Holy Spirit chided, "Sitting out of fellowship is not going to make you feel any better."

 

So, on Sunday morning, I returned to church fellowship. They were shocked to see me and questioned why I was there. As the head usher escorted me to my seat, she admonished, "Don't you be puttin' out any fires." What she meant was, sit down and stay there; you can't be shouting all over the house today. 

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You see, the more I began to praise and worship the Lord, the happier I became, which sometimes caused me to dance for joy. In that house of worship, they were just a bit more reserved and didn't really do that kind of thing. During that service, I obeyed the usher and sat down, still having palpitations. While the praise team serenaded God with song, I closed my eyes and sang along. After the second song, I stood up, still having palpitations, but I could feel joy rising inside of me. Suddenly, I heard a voice say, "If you go into a shout, you're going to drop dead right here!" 

 

I knew it was the devil trying to stop my praise. In a split-second I responded in a whisper, "If I die, then I die!" Then I went into a full praise dance, jumping and enjoying myself in the Lord, as memories of God's goodness overtook me. I shouted for about three minutes, I think. Afterward, I noticed I didn't feel anymore palpitations. After I returned home, I still didn't feel any palpitations. I sat on my sofa pondering what had happened when I heard the Holy Spirit remind, "He inhabits the praises of His people" (Psalm 22:3, KJV).

 

"Are you kidding me? That's real?" I questioned in awe. Then the Holy Spirit taught me never to think of praise and worship as just an event; it is communion with God. Praise and worship usher us into the presence of God, and at the same time, it invites God into our praises, and when he shows up, all the devil's mess gets cast out.

 

I have loved praise and worship since that first Sunday when God taught me how to "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name" (Psalm 100:4, KJV). I had heard that scripture over and over, but never understood what it meant. I do now! When we enter into God's presence with praise, he will enter into our problems with deliverance and victory.

​Now let's PRAISE THE LORD, and get free!!!