Gratitude- Freedom

It’s finally here---election season is over. For most of us, we experienced some “wins” and “losses” last night. Maybe everyone who you wanted didn’t get elected, or every amendment that you hoped for didn’t pass, but hopefully some did. As we all know, it is so important for us to be involved in the democratic process, and as we look around the corner to Veteran’s Day next week, its also wise to be grateful for the freedoms that we have been given, and that others have worked so hard to provide for us.

As we look at different gratitudes throughout the month of November, today I want to be thankful for our freedom of worship. Romans 12:1-2 tells us:

 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

I love this verse, and the freedoms that accompany it. First, I’m so thankful to have the freedom to live in a country where we have the freedom to worship. While we know it mentally, I think we don’t often stop to really think about the fact that we are able to worship whenever, however, with whomever we would like. While there may be many things hampering us from making it to church on Sunday morning, our liberty to do so is not one of those things. And for so many of our brothers and sisters around the world, that’s not the case. There are people receiving beatings, imprisonment, and death simply for trying to gather together with other believers—those in Sudan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Libya, just to name a few. It can be hard for us to remember this when it’s not in front of us every day, but this persecution is real, and we should not take lightly the fact that it is something most of us have never faced.

Not only do we have the political freedom to worship, but God has also given us the freedom to worship in such a plethora of ways. I was talking with a friend yesterday who is an artist, and she said that the time in which she feels most connected with her Creator is when she is creating in her studio. For her, creating art and using those gifts that God has given her is one of her primary acts of worship. Some of us feel more connected to God through music, or by spending time in nature, or by reading Scripture, or through conversation with a mentor—all of these things “count” as worship.

In the verse above, we are reminded that we are a living sacrifice, and that being that sacrifice is our true and proper worship. If we are living in a place where we are surrendered to God, and to doing those things which God has called us to do, our life serves as our worship. This is not to say that it is not important to attend church and engage in corporate worship with others, but simply to say that private worship is also important and a valid part of our spiritual lives. We need to worship with others at times, and we also should worship by ourselves, whatever that looks like for you.

I personally think that God loves freedom. Galatians reminds us that “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” God has given us our joys, our passions, and our gifts to use for His glory, and I think He enjoys watching us do so. My life has been pretty hectic the past couple of weeks, and I have not taken the time that I like (and need) to take for personal worship, and I have been able to feel that neglect in my spirit. I feel more scattered, more stressed, less patient, and less connected to God and to His body. It is personally so easy for me to neglect times of private worship, but it is so hard for me to continue to neglect it and be the person that God wants me to be.

I encourage you today to think about what personal worship is for you, and to take time to engage in that this week! Whether it is a walk, a prayerful yoga class, singing in your car on the way to work, or simply praying while you drink coffee and sit in front of a fire, find a few minutes in your week to worship God, and to be thankful for all the freedoms we have been afforded!


Discussion Question:
- What does personal worship look like for you?