The Truest Form Of Worship

Today, I had the great privilege to witness with my own eyes, a woman who knew what true worship means. To her, it was not about the music; it was not about the singing and clapping; it was not about her being able to sing better than her neighbors beside her; it was not about how well the worship leader could sing or lead the congregation; it was about her relationship with her God – her Daddy.

You could see the sparkle in her eyes; the purest smile on her face. You could see her singing from the bottom of her heart, though she couldn’t. Yes, she literally couldn’t. She is an elderly lady who previously had a stroke which left her paralyzed on her right side, from top to bottom, with the left side of the body with very limited function and little strength. She moves around with a wheelchair, with the help of an assistant. Before the elevator in our church was completed, she climbed up three flights of stairs, every Sunday, to the main hall of the church, situated in the first floor of the building (with the help of her son– now moved to New Zealand – and an assistant). The words she uttered amounted to unintelligible groans and noises, and one had to listen really closely to understand what she was trying to say. In spite of all these difficulties, she worships.

Usually, because of her disability, she would sit down at her usual spot at the second row from the front (she gets off her wheelchair to sit on the pew), occasionally lifting her (left) hand in worship for a few seconds before putting it down due to the lack of strength. And because of her inability to support herself due to her paralyzed condition, she would occasionally slouch to the right side, almost falling, before her assistant or someone else would come to her rescue by holding her and securing her back in her original position. Occasionally, she would also stand up (with much help from her assistant, of course) to worship, but only for less than a minute before she sits down again from the lack of strength.

As you can see, I’ve been observing her for quite awhile now, but what I saw today moved me to tears. The presence of God was really strong as we were worshiping today, and I saw her lifting up her hands again as how she usually does. She then asked her assistant to help her stand up to worship. After standing for a little while, her strength waned and her assistant helped her back to her sitting position. But instead of sitting down, she tried to pull herself back up to her standing position. And with one hand held firmly to the pew in front, together with the support of her assistant, she stood for the longest time I could remember her doing so. And as she was worshipping, I saw the purest smile I’ve ever seen, etched on her face. And after some time standing up, she let go of the pew she was holding on to and lifted her hands up high while standing.

Seeing this, I heard from the Lord, “This is the truest form of worship I desire.”

And I realized the true significance of her worship. Worship that truly is a sacrifice of praise to God; worship denied of self and given wholly to God; worship that is beyond her physical conditions and circumstances; when she had a totally legitimate reason to hold back her expressions of worship, she worshiped God with all her strength – literally.

Though I do not know her personally, and she does not know me, I hope to be able to get a picture with her someday. When I do, I would be sure to post it up here for you to see. My prayer is that I would be able to offer that sort of worship that my Savior deserves, and for you to be able to discover the truest form of worship as I have discovered through her.

It brings me great joy to see a true worshiper offering her all to a God who gave her His all, and it puts a smile on my face, knowing that she will have a new and glorified body in heaven in which she can praise God with. I sincerely look forward to the day that I will see her do so in the presence of the King of kings.