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“Don’t Forget To Stretch”
Don’t Forget To Stretch
Wade Webster
For the last several weeks we have been discussing some things that we have learned or can learn about worship from the gym. In this lesson, we will consider the importance of stretching.
Some people come into the gym and immediately begin working out. Others take some time to stretch before beginning. Science is behind stretching. Stretching slowly wakes up and warms up your muscles for the work that they are about to do. Stretching can improve performance, increase your range of motion, prevent injury, and reduce soreness. Even if you are crunched for time, raring to go, or ready to get the workout over, it is wise to take time to stretch. It pays benefits before, after, and during the workout.
Just like the gym, many just enter right into worship. They don’t do any pre-worship stretching. Of course, I am not talking about physical stretching. Although, that would probably be a good idea. It might help to keep folks awake for the sermon. I am talking about spiritual stretching. I am talking about doing little things before our worship that might improve our worship. For example, taking time to pray before worship. I know that we are going to pray during worship, but I am talking about praying in preparation for worship. Prayer helps to get our hearts and minds ready for worship. In the long ago, David prayed, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer (Psa. 19:14). Prayer frees us up from the cares of the world (1 Pet. 5:7) and allows us to focus on the Caregiver. It frees us from hatred and grudges and unauthorized anger (Mat. 5:22-24, 44; 6:12, 14-15). It frees us from self and from sin (Lk. 18:9-14). James wrote, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (Jam. 4:8). Another thing that we can do in preparation for worship is to read God’s word and to meditate upon it. John wrote, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Re. 1:3). To Timothy, Paul wrote, “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all” (1 Timothy 4:13-15). Reading and thinking about God’s word will help us to draw near to God in reverence. David wrote, “For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him” (Psa. 89:6-7). A final thing that we can do to prepare for worship is to count our blessings. David wrote, “Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah” (Psa. 68:19; Cf. 139:17-18). Counting our blessings will help to prepare us to praise God. Again, David wrote, “Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalms 103:1-5).
As we get ready to worship this week, let’s not forget to stretch. Stretching will help us to give more in our worship and to get more out of it.
