Max Lucado defined worship in an unbelievable way:
Worship is the thank you that cannot be silenced.
It is amazing that God gave us the gift of worship - something that can never be silenced by anyone. I think of Paul who was thrown in jail for proclaiming Jesus' name. You have to love Paul, who was with Silas at the time. They were both thrown into the inner dungeon and treated as if they were the most dangerous criminals, when really they had saved a girl's life. Instead of complaining, as many of us do in rough times, "Where is God? How could He allow us to be thrown in jail when we're just trying to do His work?", Paul and Silas began singing to God.
I don't know what kind of songs they were singing, but it says in Acts 16:25, "Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening."
No matter what, Paul knew that God had a plan bigger than what he could see. If God's plan meant having him thrown in jail for a period of time, Paul was okay with that. We of course can see the result of Paul's "unfair" (or so it may seem) imprisonment. The result? The jailer was so overwhelmed by this unsilenced worship that he and his entire family put their trust in God. Paul and Silas were freed. And everyone in that prison knew exactly who Paul was living for.
Later in a letter that Paul wrote while in jail, he says, "I want you to know that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including all the soldiers of the palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ...the fact remains that the message about Christ is being preached, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice." (Philippians 1:12-13 and 18)
God's story takes us through some amazing high times and some rough low ones. We often get caught up in the moment and wonder where God is in the low times. We wonder how He could let this happen. Just remember that you are in a bigger story than you can see. Give God the glory in everything that you do!
It's interesting how nobody can silence your worship, yet so many Christians silence themselves. Whatever you are going through, let everyone around you know who you are living for! Let your worship be unsilenced by your lives, by your words, by the shows you watch on tv, by the music that streams through your ears, by the way you treat other people!
You never know who is listening.
