Praise God with Gladness

“You cannot worship God and have fun at the same time.” How many times have you heard a statement like this? Maybe it hasn’t been explicitly stated, but has it been the overtone in the room of worship? What a horrible thought! Yet, for years, that seems to have been the mindset of many Christians. I do believe that that thought has been waning in recent years but it still plagues our worship assemblies even today.

Why would a God who loves us and who sees to our every need not want his children to enjoy worshiping Him? Worshiping God should be the most exhilarating thing we do each day! Whose bright idea was it to worship God sitting in a pew with a sullen face? Clearly, the Bible states, “Worship Him with sadness and with a downcast spirit.” WHAT??? You find that in the scriptures and I will find me another god to worship because that is not at all the god that I want to praise and exalt.

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100 NIV)

Well, I feel better now! Don’t you? David knew God on a personal level and he knew all of the things that the Lord had done for him. David was not a perfect man. He had many flaws but he knew the privilege of worshipping God and he did it with gladness and excitement. David also wrote, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing.” (Psalm 30:11 ESV) WOW! David knew the joy of praising God!

Praise God with gladness! Have fun worshiping our Master and Savior! “Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!” (Psalm 47:1 ESV)