People have accused me of a performance-based ministry, of being too expressive, but there is a fire in my inmost being that I can’t contain. God’s love & forgiveness & the power of the cross cause me to dance into my future, regardless of what people think. And hey, what can I say . . . I am a woman in love! When I joined my first worship team in my mid-teens, I tried hard to participate in what I thought was worship. I became boring—not extravagant. It was in my thinking that to be a Christian musician meant mediocre, nothing extreme, quiet & safe, as if somehow this conformity made me more holy. But only a few years ago I decided to be all that God predestined me to be. Bland doesn’t mean righteous, & I had permission from the King to let “all that is within me bless His holy name” (Psalm 103:1)
When King David brought the ark of the covenant (representing the presence of God) into the city, he danced & celebrated amid the joyful singing, shouts, the sounding of rams’ horns, trumpets, cymbals, lyres, & harps. Triumphant praise resounded as all of Israel joined in the thanksgiving parade! David’s worship was so extravagant that his wife, Michal, felt he was making a fool of himself. From that day she despised him in her heart. If David’s worship had been halfhearted, Michal would not have reacted so strongly to him. Casual worship wouldn’t have disturbed Michal, but David was radical in his expression of worship that day. David had extravagant love for the Lord, & he praised his Lord with reckless abandon! He was crazy with enthusiasm because he was so in love with God.
When we are extravagantly worshiping God, we may have onlookers who won’t respond the way we’d hoped. Someone may watch us as we lay down our lives to worship our Lord. The testimony of our adoration may be viewed as something of great value that will cause others to join in, but it may also make someone despise us for the freedom & the joy that we are living in. But worship is unto the Lord & not unto men. Worship is an act of seeking God’s face & enjoying His magnificent presence.
Taken from the book "Extravagant Worship" by Darlene Zschech.