Let the Praise Go Up

Praise and worship has always been affirmed as a way in which we experience God’s rest and renewal in our lives.  There is just something about singing a “new song” with joy in our hearts that leaves us feeling energized and excited about God’s work.

“Let the Veil down, let the praise go up.

 Let the Veil down, let the praise go up.

Let the veil down, we’re in the presence of the Lord.”

I’m not quite sure what it is about this song that excites me.  Perhaps it is the realization that there is no veil that separates me from God any longer.  The song tends to make me feel like I’m singing about some kind of wall I’ve built up.  You know the walls, right? For some of us they are walls of frustration.  Or walls of disappointment.  Or walls of shame.  For others there are walls of religion, or pride, or insecurity.  Whatever the walls may be in our lives that need to come down, the separation that the song sings about is the Old Testament use of the veil in the temple that separated the outer court of the temple from the inner court (holy of holies) where God’s presence was.  Only the priests were allowed there.  That is until Jesus’ death, of course.  On that occasion the temple veil was torn and humanity was granted full access to God the Father through the person of Jesus the son.  Good news for everyone, and certainly something worth praising God for.  For some of us waiting to experience God’s rest and renewal, we must first give ourselves permission to get in God’s presence.  NO, you aren’t perfect.  No one is.  However, if Jesus can make a way for us to have contact with God, giving his own life, then our excuses about not being good enough just aren’t, well, good enough. J

Okay, so you’re ready to get in God’s presence because you’ve “Let the veil down”, but once you’ve experienced God’s renewal, there is a whole new understanding for what it means to “Let the Praise Go up.”  Praise is an act of the heart and the body.  It happens when we exclaim “Amen!” and when we open our arms and our mouths in adoration of God.  But let’s be honest here.  Praise doesn’t end there.  In fact, in that stage, praise is just getting started.  Praise and worship isn’t an action of music, but a commitment of one’s life.  The bottom line is that if we are getting in God’s presence and praising him, then we are also entering the presence of others and demonstrating our love for God.  So be encouraged this morning, that if you want to open yourselves up to God’s renewing power then all you have to do is worship him.  Be reminded that praise and worship happens with our lives even more than it does with our words.  Some of us will worship by letting go of resentment.  Others will extend forgiveness.  Another will say “I’m sorry” and someone needs to make a point to say “I love you.”  This is the hard part of praise.  But when you’ve done it, then you’ve torn down the veil we all keep putting back up.  Then you will have let Jesus work have effect in your life.  Then you will be praising God, and finding yourself in his presence where there is peace, strength, hope, rest, and renewal for a weary soul.