There’s nothing like worship to break the yoke of boredom and tiredness. God’s presence is powerful, and it brings strength and healing to all who seek Him.
But what if you’re too tired—or disengaged—to worship?
That happened to Bethany H., a worship leader from South Carolina. In December, she came to the International House of Prayer’s Onething conference, a gathering of around 20,000 young adults who are seeking Jesus.
The problem was that she didn’t even want to be there, and praise was the last thing on her mind. “I just didn’t feel like it,” she says.
Have you ever felt that way? If so, you’re not alone. But God can break in! His strength “is made perfect in [our] weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
During registration, Bethany’s husband went to sign up for a personal ministry time (prophecy or healing appointment), so she waited in the prayer room, a live 24/7 prayer-with-worship meeting.
And God did the rest!
At first, Bethany “sat there like a bump on a log, watching the worship team like they were performers,” she says of the experience.
But then Jon Thurlow, the worship leader, began singing “Storm All Around You.” The song, based on Revelation 4, describes the worship around God’s throne in heaven, where lightning and thunder crash and the living creatures cry, “Holy, holy, holy.”
“I had never heard this song, but it pierced my soul,” Bethany explains. “It was like, instantly, that tough shell I’d developed broke, and all I could do was worship. The room was electric. The power and presence of God was so strong.”
Bethany’s breakthrough in worship “was a defining moment for [her]. It restored [her] soul. It brought [her] back to life—literally.”
After just one glimpse of the throne, she longed for more. During the conference sessions, Bethany pressed in toward the front so that she wouldn’t be distracted from worshiping her King. This pursuit had brought a lasting impact.
“Being able to be in His presence without having to be in control was life-changing. Now my heart is tender before the Lord again,” she says.
Worship is meant to free us. When we encounter the Lord, we are not the same. We need His presence every day, every hour, and even every minute. He is as close as our next breath (Acts 17:27–28).
We are made to worship; it’s something we will continue to do in heaven. Our conversation with God will never end!
Worship and prayer are of the utmost importance to the Lord.
We invite you to a time of prayer with worship with like-minded believers at Onething 2018, December 28–31 in Kansas City. Information and registration details can be found at ihopkc.org/onething. Group rates are also available.
