One of my Bible studies has been examining the spiritual disciplines that were once frequently practiced by the saints and early Christians but have since fallen by the wayside. We concluded with a discussion on the discipline of Celebration, the act of rejoicing. For Christians, Celebration is the act of rejoicing over our God and the blessings He has showered upon us. (For my purposes, that is the distinction between Celebration and Worship: Celebration is in response to specific events, Worship is perpetual.)
Using the format for birthdays and anniversaries, our celebration of God’s righteous and faithful deeds should be visible and unabashed. I’m thinking of the times I have celebrated the appearance of a long-lost friend at a group event after a couple weeks away. I shriek their name, leap out of my seat, and tear across the room to wrap them in a big, tight, welcome-back hug. I rejoice for and celebrate my friend’s return and my excitement is visible on every feature and in every action. How often does my celebration of the One and Only Lord know such boundlessness?
Sad to say, even my demonstrative enthusiasm disappears at the thought of exulting over something few people will understand. The closest I’ve come is weeping in gratitude or smiling uncontrollably. But God deserves my whole heart and my whole soul, He deserves to have my joy and gratitude flow out into physical manifestations.
You know You make me want to SHOUT, kick my heels up and SHOUT, throw my hands up and SHOUT, throw my head back and SHOUT.
“Come on now, don’t forget to say you will. Say that you love Me, say that you need Me, say that you want Me, say you want to please Me.”
I still remember when I used to be nine years old, and I was a fool for You from the bottom of my soul. Now that I’ve found You, I will never let You go, and if You ever leave me, oh! You know it’s gonna hurt me so.
This song epitomizes for me the attitude we should have when we celebrate the Lover of our souls. Even listening to the chorus alone, it is almost impossible for me not to dance my heart out. And notice how much of the body is involved in the exultation: voice, feet, hands, head. Everything that can demonstrate joy and jubilation is taking part.
What if we were to celebrate God and His goodness as He deserves to be celebrated? What if we were to remember the joy and lack of shame we felt when we first embraced our Father in Heaven and were so sold out for Him alone that nothing and no one could tear us apart? What if we recommit our lives to chasing wholeheartedly after the promises of God, never letting go for a moment? What if we continually remember that He will never leave us?
Living out the last three questions enables us to live out the first. Our enthusiasm will be rekindled, to the point where we cannot help but celebrate all that God has done. And celebrate in a way that involves our whole hearts, minds, and bodies. He is so worthy of this kind of celebration.
God loves to be reminded that we care, just as we love to be reminded that He does. Celebration is an opportunity for us to tell Him we love Him, we need Him, we want Him, and we want to please Him. Celebration is visible, it’s audible, and it’s unashamed.
So go ahead. SHOUT!
************
“Shout” written by The Isley Brothers, performed by Whoopi Goldberg and the cast from “Sister Act”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtAJj5gKcL4
