Today’s Verse
“Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.”
Psalm 149:3 (NIV)
Dancing Before God
I’m not naturally a dancer. I don’t move easily. I’m self-conscious about how I look, what people might think, whether I’m doing it “right.” And for a long time, that self-consciousness carried over into worship. On Sundays I usually keep my praise quite “contained” and my favorite way to worship is on my own.
But then I think about David. The king of Israel, dancing before God with all his might as the ark returned to Jerusalem. Leaping and celebrating with such abandon that his wife was embarrassed. And when she confronted him, David’s response was essentially: I don’t care what you think. This is for God, not for you.
There’s something about joy that can’t always be contained in stillness. Sometimes worship needs to move. Not because God requires it, but because the gladness in our hearts demands more than words. It needs expression, physical, unrestrained, without reservation.
Miriam understood this. After crossing the Red Sea, after witnessing God’s deliverance, she didn’t just sing, she danced. And the women followed her, celebrating with tambourines and movement because standing still didn’t match what they felt.
I’m learning that worship isn’t just about reverence and solemnity. Sometimes it’s about joy that overflows. About letting praise move from my heart to my feet. About caring more what God thinks than what anyone around me might say.
This doesn’t mean I have to dance every time I worship. But it does mean I shouldn’t let self-consciousness keep me from expressing joy when it wells up. God is worthy of worship that holds nothing back, even if that worship moves.
Today’s Prayer
Lord, I will dance in Your presence, celebrating who You are with uninhibited joy, worshiping with my whole body not just my words, holding nothing back in praise.
Dancing is freedom, expression, celebration that can’t be contained in stillness, and You’re worthy of worship that moves, that leaps, that can’t help but respond physically to Your goodness.
Teach me to worship You with abandon, to let joy overflow into movement, to care more about honoring You than about looking dignified or composed to others.
David danced before You with all his might, Miriam danced after crossing the Red Sea, and throughout scripture Your people responded to Your goodness with celebration that moved their bodies.
Help me overcome self-consciousness that holds me back from full expression of worship, to care more about what You think than what people around me might say.
Remind me that dancing in Your presence is an offering, a declaration of joy, a physical expression of the gladness my soul feels when I’m near You.
Give me freedom to worship with my whole self, to let praise move from my heart to my feet, to celebrate You without restraint or reservation.
Let me dance in Your presence today, expressing joy that words alone can’t capture, worshiping with abandon the God who deserves everything I have to give.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Art print
If this devotional has spoken to you, the full 8 × 10″ art print is available to bring into your home. It’s printed on quality art paper, unframed and ready to place wherever you need a quiet reminder of the joy of the Lord. You can find it in my shop, with free shipping included.