There has been times I have felt so unworthy. That I had failed. I think of the mistakes of my youth, and yes, as an adult. Even when I came back to church, I felt unworthy to raise my hands, because I felt “dirty” as Lauren Daigle shares in this song, “How Can It Be”.

How could I, a man who has been divorced twice, … lost almost everything, be able to raise righteous hands unto the Lord? My hands certainly aren’t worthy, nor did I feel righteous. I was ashamed. I felt like I was in bondage by my own failures. Yet, He breaks the chains. He rights the wrongs. He forgives, and He is the Redeemer.

Through my decades of life, serving, learning, and yes failing and making mistakes; I have learned to worship God with free spirit. Because Jesus doesn’t bind us, His message isn’t a message of bondage. It’s a message of freedom, it’s a message of hope, it’s a message of Agape. I do raise my hands in church now, and I shout Hallelujah at times. I may even bounce, dance, and even jump sometimes. Sometimes I may even weep. My worship is between God and I. And if we can be so enthusiastic at a sporting event to jump, dance, shout, and raise our hands; is not my Savior worthy of the same?

The great mystery is “how can it be?” How can a perfect God accept an imperfect me? Because He pleads my cause, He rights my wrongs, free to press on, and move to the mark to finish the race, and finish it well. He breaks my chains, He overcomes, He gave His life to give me mine. He says I AM FREE!  Free to sing, free to dance, free to worship, free to love, free to forgive not only others, but to forgive myself. Free to seek Him, free to SPEAK LIFE, because He spoke life into me!

DW