Consider the wonder of this thought: the One who loves us most has invited us to a dance. We can’t afford the price to get in—He’s already paid it. We aren’t sure of the music, the alignment, the sequence, the movement, the space, the timing—He’ll gladly guide us. We worry about performance, score, ranking—He’s joyful just seeing our willingness to
receive His invitation.
Let’s receive the invitation to dance. Let’s step up from our couches of complacency, our tables of fear, our chairs of doubt, our seats of unfamiliarity.
Hear the music. See the welcome. Respond to the invitation.
Stand up. Step forward. Walk toward the One who has invited you here. Begin to let music of grace guide your steps. Begin to let rhythm of redemption lead your motion. Begin to rejoice a while—not longer obsessed by the pain and hurts you’ve carried for so long.
Dancing isn’t denial. It is choosing to be glad no matter what’s staring back, choosing to celebrate in a world of wounds, choosing to let a moment not pass by without a segment of festival.
Let us dance.
– Today’s blog is from the book Pause: The Secret to a Better Life, One Word at a Time. Pick up your copy on Amazon or HERE.
God has been constantly reminding me to step out of my comfort zone and into an area of the unknown, but to remember to trust and have faith that he is control. This paints a picture for me in that aspect. It’s a reminder that no matter where I am to choose joy and to choose trust in The One who won’t let me down.
“Dancing isn’t denial. It is choosing to be glad no matter what’s staring back, choosing to celebrate in a world of wounds.” Man, what a powerful statement! Choosing joy is something that I’ve been having to do a lot of lately. So often, when things get tough, I wan’t to hide in my sadness instead of receiving and accepting the joy that Christ has won for us. Dancing for me is accepting the realities of life and then choosing to step out and worship in our weakness. To be joyful regardless of our circumstances. When we worship in our weakness, it allows the Spirit to touch our lives and bring healing and the fullness of joy to us.
This speaks to me so closely. There is a note on my work study desk and it says GUIDANCE..and it says “God. u & I. Dance.” Someone told me this years ago. And I was encouraged to be led by my Fathers guidance continually. Step into the dance that is life, with the perfect lead man.
Seems like “contentment” has been echoing lately in my life. Not that I am not content, but that I need to use that as a word for others. I believe so many of us feel stuck in this season of our lives and forget that it is preparing us for the next season of our lives. I have a Goliath of a season in front of me, yet I know that this season has many mini-Goliath’s in it that I must conquer in or for God to trust me later on.
I have been choosing to be happy with everything that is going on that is bad and stressful here lately and it has helped a lot. Usually when something bad and stressful happens I let it get me down and then it seems like everything else is going wrong but when I think of all the good things that have happened and choose to be happy I feel even better and don’t get down as bad or as long as I usually would.
What stood out to me the most was the statement that “He has already paid the ticket” when I couldn’t afford it. This reminds me of the gift He has given me, the gift of being able to dance with Him. He has already paid the ticket yet often time I don’t accept the ticket and join Him to dance. It’s time for me to accept the ticket and dance more often than I do.
“We worry about performance, score, and ranking.” Many people know I play golf, but do not know how much it means to me. I have practiced since the 6th grade to be good at this sport and at times have been victorious and at other times failed. I put an absurd amount of pressure on myself to do well for myself, my team, and my coach. Because I have had more failures than victories, anxiety builds up in my veins and I worry I will not be able to perform my best. Recently, I have talked to Dr. Rackley in the science department on how to deal with this pressure. He told me something very useful. Picture everyone you are playing with, your teammates, and your opponents as Jesus. Does Jesus really care if you hit it in left or right, a lake or a bunker, or miss the green or not? No, He cares how I react to the the bad shot, how I react to the good shot, and how react to my teammates and opponents. This has relieved much pressure on my golf game and allowed me to just “dance” or swing with Jesus while I am on the course.
Dr. Rackley obviously works in the Psychology department.**** 😛
This blog entry reminded me of Philippians. Paul was able to find joy even when he was in prison. He was joyful in the midst of his struggles. Being glad in any circumstance is certainly something I need to learn more and more. Sometimes, no matter what we are going through, we just need to get up and dance!
I’ve been thinking about things like this quite a bit recently. I’ve watched my reactions when I’ve been stuck in a rut. I see how my mood becomes whatever my situations dictate. Often times, before I can dance, I have to weep. I push into the rut to understand how I even came to be in it in the first place. Letting God work on me where I’m at is something I have become more comfortable with and more open to receiving. Believe me, finding the joy to dance when it seems like I’m buried in an insurmountable pile of school work, bills, and family problems is difficult. However, just the thought of Christ sacrificing his own life for me to even face my problems, that will always be a reason to dance.
“Dancing isn’t denial. It is choosing to be glad no matter what’s staring back, choosing to celebrate in a world of wounds, choosing to let a moment not pass by without a segment of festival.” What if we actually lived this instead of just reading it. Realizing that we can rejoice regardless of the situation. Paul rejoiced while in prison and yet we cant even smile while in our own situations. Something I have learned this semester is there is beauty in the struggle so why not dance and rejoice. Regardless. NO Matter what. Choose to Dance with the Father.
I actually never thought dancing for God was inappropriate. I grew up understanding that dancing was not aloud in church and that you should not dance. But I like what you write at the end, “Dancing isn’t denial. It is choosing to be glad no matter what’s staring back, choosing to celebrate in a world of wounds, choosing to let a moment not pass by without a segment of festival.” I would have never though this of dancing. But honestly I like this idea. I think it is great that we can express our love for God and praise Him through our dancing. It is a foreign idea, but one that I am interested in exploring.
I struggle with letting my guard down. It’s hard for me to just let go and dance. I’d feel foolish and insecure, to be honest. I don’t know what else to really say about it other than that. The Lord is still working on me.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…a time to mourn and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4).
Even in the midst of all my homework being due, pretty much at the same time, I know that I need to make time to spend with my friends and rejoice with them. Taking the time to slow down from the busy pace of writing papers and looking for the joy in the moment, not the sorrow and the sleepless nights I’ll have.
I can honestly say I am not much of a dancer, but I think the point in this is not the dance, it is what the dance represents. Letting go of what is holding up back from movement (change and acceptance). In this respect I accept God’s invitation to take me to a place where I am not comfortable so I can enjoy the places he takes me.
Dancing. Something i love to do but only with myself, alone, and in private. A place where i can act a fool and not have to worry that i did a move wrong or i didn’t spin the correct way or i flat out look crazy. I don’t like the idea of sharing this with someone because then i am vulnerable. Vulnerable to their thoughts and speculations of my actions. I can see why God would want to dance with me. It isn’t about my movements or actions but it is about me just being with him. some of the best dancing moments I can recall having wasn’t in my room, alone cutting some rug but it was with another person. God wants to connect like that but on a deeper level, all i have to do is take his hand and follow along.
So often I know that I want to take the lead or even try to advise God on how to do His job. Learning to just sit back and take every step with the Father’s lead is an overwhelmingly peaceful place to be. It’s incredible to know that he’s happy with our acceptance of His invitation–He isn’t concerned with the performance, but simply wants us right next to Him.
Dancing to me is when you drop everything you’re doing and celebrate. If i think of all the dances i have been too, the last thing on my mind is schoolwork or being stressed. I think Christ calls us to do the same thing – drop everything and follow Him. To often i stress over small, unimportant things. I am called by Christ, and its time for me to answer the call and dance my way through life in His name.
I remember the last time my best friend and I attempted to slow dance in my living room. He tried to lead and I utterly failed at following that lead. I feel more comfortable leading because less is at stake for me and I am less likely to get hurt. Precisely the point made here. Dancing insinuates the ability to trust your partner to lead you to the next step, through the next turn, carry you through the lift, bring you safely back down, and bring you to a strong finish. The dance is far more fluid with one lead and one willing to follow.
I’m not a dancer, but dancing brings joy out in me. The aspect of dancing is energy based whether it’s slow or fast, jumping or sliding, twisting or snapping. No matter what form of dance there is, it’s all energy based that brings out joy. It brings out a variety of forms and styles of people. It connects energy and life together so people can enjoy time expressing their selves in a unique way. It’s life. It’s something that most people do differently. But that’s okay because we’re all different, and that’s what I enjoy.