Our Worship Endures Forever

The following is an article of mine that was recently featured on the faith-based website, (in)Courage. I’m including the link at the end of this devotion in case you’d like to see the original format. (in)Courage is an amazing source of inspiration!

Enjoy!

I admit that I sometimes get caught up in scrolling through videos on social media—my favorites feature dogs, flowers, travel, and of course, faith-based inspiration. This morning as I took a little scroll, I came across a video of two elderly women singing praises to Jesus. Apparently, they are life-long friends, with one of them battling dementia at 98 years old. Still this beautiful woman, sitting in her wheelchair, enthusiastically kept the melody and recalled every word to the song.

This video brought tears to my eyes as I remembered my own grandma who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. This cruel illness stole her immediate, short-term, and long-term memory. There came a point when she no longer recognized faces or knew her family, and near the end she couldn’t even speak. Although not long before she passed into glory, she did miraculously recall the lyrics to a couple of precious and child-like worship songs.

It was Christmas Day, and our family gathered to celebrate Jesus’ birth as we always do—grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and lots of cousins filled the rooms with conversations and laughter. As I entered the house, I went straight to the dining room table where Grandma and Grandpa and a few other family members were seated. Leaning in close I gave Grandma a hug and a kiss. I plopped down in the chair beside her, and then hoping for a spark of recognition tried engaging her, but she sat silently in her wheelchair. Nothing I said seemed to register…until I began softly singing, “Jesus Loves Me,” and “Away in a Manger.” She perked up as I sang them over and over. She faintly smiled and even tried to sing along, accurately grasping the words. This was our Christmas miracle: worship brought a sparkle back into her distant eyes, and for those few moments of her awareness I am grateful.

This faith-filled woman taught me to sing these two songs when I was a child; I sang them with my sons when they were young, and here again with Grandma when she was old. They had always been favorites of mine, and now so, even more.

Grandma was the one who led me to Jesus. She and Grandpa would take my two cousins and me (we were the oldest of the group) on trips to their cabin in the mountains. During these trips they would tuck us into bed each night by telling us Bible stories and leading us in prayer. They lovingly modeled and shared their faith with us over the years. One weekend around Christmastime, my cousins and I stayed over at their house for a weekend visit. We made snowball cookies in preparation for the holiday. Eating the dough was always my favorite, especially before the walnuts were added. While the cookies were baking, Grandma invited me to join her in the guest room that was located just off the kitchen. She asked me if I’d like to accept Jesus into my heart, and I eagerly said yes. I loved Jesus and I knew without a doubt that He loved me too. So, side by side, we sat on the edge of the bed, our hands clasped, and heads bowed, while Grandma led me in the prayer that changed my life and my eternity. Thanks to Grandma, I have a joyous song in my heart to this day, just like she always had. I worship in the kitchen, in the car, and on walks outside. Singing helps to reset my heart and mind on things above (Colossians 3:1-2). Worship is a powerful weapon against the enemy, and it is a sure-fire way of pushing back even the darkest day. Worship ushers us into the presence of God.

My takeaway from the video and my own stroll down memory lane is that worship is innate. God created us to worship; worship has been occurring in Heaven since before Creation began and will continue beyond time as we know it. For a child of God, worship is uncontainable and unquenchable. It wells up from deep within our souls; our spirits can’t help but cry out in grateful adoration. Our memories may fade, but worship is never forgotten, and it can’t be stolen from us either. It begins here on earth and continues as we transition to our heavenly home, where we will join in the angels’ infinite chorus. My grandma is already in Heaven singing to her heart’s content (maybe even doing a cartwheel).

I’m sure she entered Heaven just as the psalmist describes: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name” (Psalm 100:4 NIV).

Someday I’ll join Grandma and sing praises before God’s Throne too. Once again, we’ll be together singing to Jesus. Scripture tells us that faith, hope, and love will remain (1 Corinthians 13:13), but it also reveals that worship endures forever and ever.

“Day and night they never stop saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.’” Revelation 4:8 NIV

Let’s turn on some worship music today and sing along to our heart’s content. Our perspective on things will surely shift as we join the chorus of Heaven!

My Article