Barak. Not Obama.

Thanks to my friend, Jacken for capturing this super raw and vulnerable moment between me and the Lord. You might be able to tell how puffy my eyes were because I had been crying so hard. 

 

My squad just got done with two weeks of on field training and debrief! It was a great time full of so much learning, growth, and rest! 

 

During this time I had an opportunity to teach my squad a little about worship and praise. This is absolutely insane to me because just a couple years ago I never thought I would be able to lead anyone in worship. My idea of worship was warped and I thought worship through music was all there was. However through my time on the World Race this concept has been completely torn apart and reconstructed on truth. 

 

Worship is so much more than praising God through music. It is literally ascribing worth to God and this can be done in SO MANY forms. 

 

When doing my teaching I wanted to tell my squad what it looked like to tell the Lord how worth it he is by just the positioning of our bodies. 

 

In the Hebrew language there are many different words that in English all translate to “praise.” The one I want to mention is Barak. This word means to kneel down in respect or adoration. It also means to bless or salute. We see pictures and hear stories of people kneeling before the Father all the time. Think the little kid praying at his bed before he goes to sleep. There’s something to this. There is something different about physically being on your knees. 

 

Here’s something super cool! The first time this work Barak is used in scripture is in Genesis 1:28. The first part of the verse says, “And God blessed them…” The word blessed here is that word Barak. God blessed Adam and Eve and does so in love and adoration of his creation who bear His image. So when we kneel to the Father we are simply giving back the adoration he has given to us!

 

And this is before we say, sing, or think a word! Wow! Simply by just positioning our bodies we can show love and honor to God. How beautiful that a bowed posture can be both a physical reminder and declaration that God is worthy regardless of our situation. 

 

Next time you feel utterly lost, at your end, or like you don’t know what to do, try worship and praising God. Get down on your knees and experience surrender, honor, and adoration through Barak. It might be out of your comfort zone at first but there is something indescribably different about being on you knees before the Lord. 

 

In other news I have been absolutely blown away by the Lord. This round of fundraising for me has been so cool because 50% of my donations have been anonymous. Thats right! $2300 of people saying I don’t need recognition, I just want to serve and see the Lord move! So to those people and everyone who has supported me in so many ways, THANK YOU!!! Your generosity is appreciated and a huge blessing in my life!