We should enter worship like a little child going to Disneyland; full of excitement, anticipation, wide-eyed, and eager. We should know this is going to be a fantastic experience just as the child knows that Dumbo will be a flight of fancy that takes her to fantastic heights. Their preparations for Disneyland don’t begin as the parent hands over the ticket and neither should our preparation for worship begin as we shake hands with the greeter. Parents should start getting ready for worship the night before since getting children to church is often times part of the spiritual battle to keep the parent from entering worship. Pray, connect with God in a personal way before you leave from home. The children come to the parents before they leave for Disneyland, asking, pleading, and dancing around like little fairies to line up an itinerary of rides and attractions and so we should go the Father asking for forgiveness, pleading to meet with Him, and dancing around at the thought of some undefined blessing, being one and/or receiving one.
It’s not just the rides that get them pumped up to be there but they also anticipate the characters. They carry no animosity towards Mickey and Minnie Mouse and they’re struck with admiration at the thought of meeting the princesses. You should be smiling about now at the thought of meeting your favorite characters at church, drawing some similarities between your friends and Disney characters; who is your Peter Pan, your Donald Duck, your Snow White? We shouldn’t bring animosity toward our brothers or sisters to worship; drop it at the foot of the cross and enter in.
Little children are not free from anxiety at going to Disneyland and a dose of it adds to the height of excitement. After all, when dad tells them they are tall enough for the ride that just last year they had to sit out while the big brother went on they are just a tad unsure if they are actually ready even if they are tall enough. Aren’t we big people the same way when the Father puts something in front of us for worship saying we are ready to go higher, deeper, see Him more clearly? Don’t we battle unbelief, thinking we are unworthy even though the great Sacrifice paved the way perfectly? Unless the big brother spooks them, the little child grabs hold of mom’s hand and goes on the ride anyway and so we should deepen our worship, grab hold of Jesus’ hand and enter in.
Frazzled when you get to church with all the hubbub of getting everybody into the car on time? It’s not too late to get set; grab a brother of sister and have them pray for you, with you; take an extra second or two on the way to your seat and hug someone; take a deep breath and let it out while letting the frazzledness run off you like water off a duck’s back.
We should be like the little child leaving Disneyland when we leave worship; spiritually spent because we gave it our all, a little sad at leaving because we loved it so much, deeply satisfied because it was everything and more than we anticipated, and ready to start charging up for the next time. Get ready for the next time because you are tall enough for the Matterhorn.
In His Grip,
Jerry
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