Countdown to Worship

Each week, approximately 5 minutes before worship begins at my home church, a cool video begins playing with a clock counting down to zero. It is intended to alert the congregation that it is time to find seats and settle in as worship is about to begin (yes, I know we are always to be "worshipping" but I reference the formal "assembling of the saints").

Each Sunday morning, I give some considerable effort to preparing myself for worship. From my first conscious breath, on Sunday mornings I begin praying God will prepare my heart for an encounter with Him. Yesterday, I was met with a new feeling of anticipation as the clock ticked down.

Like many others, I enjoy going to sporting events and at some, like the Maverick games, there is a countdown clock before tip-off. The energy always tends to grow as the crowd anticipates the beginning of the game. The money for the tickets has already been spent, more will be spent on concessions and souvenirs, the only thing left to determine will be whether it is a "great" game (our team wins) or just an "okay" game (our team lost, but at least we got to see our favorite players).

Tens of thousands of people still gather at Cape Canaveral, Florida to watch Space Shuttle rockets launch into the sky. The countdown runs for hours, then minutes (sometimes suspending the anticipation with a "holding pattern" due to weather or mechanical problems), then finally, seconds... we hold our breath and then the massive rockets ignite with expertly programmed precision. People's cheers can't be heard over the roaring of the massive rocket blast. I don't think that ever gets boring or routine, though it is virtually the same procedure every time.

Yesterday, as the worship clock counted down, I had a greater than usual sense of God's arrival. It felt highly personal and He seemed very close to my heart. No, he didn't come running out of a tunnel into an arena full of laser lights and artificial smoke. His arrival didn't come with a cheesy announcer's voice stretching out the words... and heeeeerrrrrreeeessssss the AlllllllllllMightyyyyyyyyyyyy Godddddddddd!!!!

By my best calculations, the Almighty entered quietly and sat close to those who were really hoping to see Him. He humbly entered through a Spiritual portal and spoke through song and scripture, prayer and proclamation. He could be seen in the face of others who sought His presence. He was very much in the room.

"Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened..."

5, 4, 3, 2... 1.

Now... now is the time to worship. Are you ready?

The countdown has already begun.