And then other times… you just aren’t as into it. Maybe you’ve found yourself mouthing the words, there physically but not truly present mentally or spiritually.

It would be great if the path to worship was a clear and open road, but we are a complex people with our own thoughts, feelings, and clutter that can creep in our way.

How can we help make our worship more fruitful and authentic? First, let’s identify some roadblocks. A roadblock to worship is anything that stands in between you and worshiping God in freedom.

It can be uncomfortable.

Worship can be a time of vulnerability and raw emotion, and it’s natural to be a little wary of putting yourself on display to those around you. Recently, I was talking with a friend, and she expressed a desire to enjoy worship on a deeper level and feel closer to God. I was surprised, and if I am honest, a little confused at her statement. What would prevent her from feeling closer to God during worship?

As we spoke more, I got the feeling she was afraid what others would think and didn’t want to draw attention to herself. I’m sure we all can relate to that feeling. But friend, the fear of judgement will only keep you boxed in and closed off from experiencing freedom. Remember, Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Cor 3:17).

Let me encourage you in this. Worship is a time of surrender and vulnerability. A time of dependence, honor and adoration. However you feel led to worship-do it! It’s between you and God. Your neighbor can’t understand all that God has brought you through, delivered you from or how He healed you.

You may feel led to sing softly or sing with gusto. You may bow your head, or raise your face toward the heavens. You may raise a hand or you may let your hands rest. Whatever it may be, I encourage you to free yourself from worrying about what others think, and focus on the One who matters the most.

You carry too much pain.

This one I can really relate to. Many Sundays, I came into church with my heart broken over something. Maybe it was an issue with a child that was concerning me or a family member. Maybe it was grief.

The one common thread in all those instances is that I felt like I had to hold my breath or all of that heartache would just come spilling out. Worship was tricky for me during those times. All I could think about was what was burdening my heart, not the songs we were singing. How do you praise God and worship Him when you feel so broken inside?

I learned you don’t set aside the pain. It’s all consuming to us, and it takes up all our space. No, you worship through the pain. You feel the weight of the pain in your heart, and determine to raise a hallelujah anyway. We can’t wait until our lives and circumstances are perfect to worship Him, we must worship Him through it all.

Remember Job? He lost it all, and all in one day! We see in Job 1:13-22 servant after servant came and told Job of what he had lost. He lost his servants, his property, and his children. And look at verse 20-22. What did Job do after he received all this terrible news? He worshipped.

I try to put myself in his place and imagine losing my house, my children, all my property and then being like Job in verse 21 and declaring Blessed be the name of the Lord. All this pain and suffering, and he determined to worship and still find God blameless. My human mind has a hard time processing this!

We make it about us.

This one may sting a little, but hang in there with me. How many times have you caught yourself thinking one of the following? “I didn’t like the worship today.” “They sing too long.” “I am not a music person. I just come for the message”.

What do these comments have in common? They are centered on our comfort level and personal preferences instead of centered on praising the Holy of Holies. Somehow, we make it about us and our current mood. When we do that, we limit our experience with God in that precious moment.

How do we battle this? We shift our focus. We remember the Cross. We remember the bloodshed and the sacrifice made for us so we didn’t have to experience a cross. We remember how He saved us from the drowning depths of our sin and saved us from an eternity without His Presence.

This message was meant to encourage you to break free from any limits you have put on yourself during worship. To break free from the box you have put around yourself, and to experience freedom and the fullness of God. Be blessed, friend. Be blessed.