Breaking Through Self-Absorption
"Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness." (Psalm 150:1-2)
Have you ever caught yourself thinking more about how you look during worship than about who you're worshiping? I sure have. Last Sunday, I was leading worship and caught myself wondering if people noticed the new guitar I was playing. Right in the middle of singing about God's glory, I was focused on me!
Let me ask you something personal. What's holding you back from fully engaging in worship? For many of us, it's self-consciousness. We're worried about how we look, how we sound, or what others might think.
I took my grandson fishing last weekend, and he was so excited when he caught his first bass that he literally fell backward into the boat. His joy was pure and unrestrained. He wasn't thinking about how he looked or what I might think. He was simply responding genuinely to the moment.
That's what real worship looks like. It's not about the style of music or whether your hands are raised or by your side. It's about your heart being so focused on God that you forget yourself entirely.
One of my church members told me he doesn't sing because he doesn't have a good voice. I reminded him gently that God never asked for a beautiful voice—He asked for a surrendered heart. God isn't sitting in heaven with a scorecard for your vocal performance; He's looking at whether your heart is tuned to Him.
This week, I want you to try something. Find a place where you're completely alone—maybe your car, your shower, or an empty house. Put on your favorite worship song and engage with God like nobody's watching—because nobody is! Sing out loud, raise your hands, kneel down, or whatever helps you connect with God. Practice breaking through that self-consciousness so that when you gather with other believers, you can focus completely on the One who deserves all praise.
Remember, worship isn't about you—it's about Him. When you shift your focus from yourself to the King of Kings, everything changes. Your problems don't seem so overwhelming, your fears don't grip you as tightly, and the presence of God becomes tangible in your life.
Have you ever caught yourself thinking more about how you look during worship than about who you're worshiping? I sure have. Last Sunday, I was leading worship and caught myself wondering if people noticed the new guitar I was playing. Right in the middle of singing about God's glory, I was focused on me!
Let me ask you something personal. What's holding you back from fully engaging in worship? For many of us, it's self-consciousness. We're worried about how we look, how we sound, or what others might think.
I took my grandson fishing last weekend, and he was so excited when he caught his first bass that he literally fell backward into the boat. His joy was pure and unrestrained. He wasn't thinking about how he looked or what I might think. He was simply responding genuinely to the moment.
That's what real worship looks like. It's not about the style of music or whether your hands are raised or by your side. It's about your heart being so focused on God that you forget yourself entirely.
One of my church members told me he doesn't sing because he doesn't have a good voice. I reminded him gently that God never asked for a beautiful voice—He asked for a surrendered heart. God isn't sitting in heaven with a scorecard for your vocal performance; He's looking at whether your heart is tuned to Him.
This week, I want you to try something. Find a place where you're completely alone—maybe your car, your shower, or an empty house. Put on your favorite worship song and engage with God like nobody's watching—because nobody is! Sing out loud, raise your hands, kneel down, or whatever helps you connect with God. Practice breaking through that self-consciousness so that when you gather with other believers, you can focus completely on the One who deserves all praise.
Remember, worship isn't about you—it's about Him. When you shift your focus from yourself to the King of Kings, everything changes. Your problems don't seem so overwhelming, your fears don't grip you as tightly, and the presence of God becomes tangible in your life.
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3 Comments
YES! That is such a good point! I will try that and stay FOCUSED on JESUS. I'm sure I'll be BLESSED.
I need to concentrate on praising God than on my scratchy voice
Thank you Pastor Dodd for your message, it touches me deeply. I used to attend Westside Church 15 years ago before I relocated to Idaho. I watch your services on YouTube, and am always deeply blessed through your sermons. My Mother also watches from California, and you still deeply bless her in her golden years. I grew up in Nebraska and attended First Baptist in Bellevue. I miss Nebraska, but I miss your in-person sermons more, your love for Jesus is contagious. Bless you!