Most people like to dance. Some think they can and some think they can’t but for most that try, there is an outcome of pleasure. I am sure that many of us can relate to being at a wedding or celebratory occasion and watching people move their feet and bodies. Sometimes I sit and laugh – inside of course- feeling embarrassed for those on a dance floor as they move with freedom and excitement but with no rhythm or beat yet in great confidence that what they are doing is exactly what they want to be doing. They have abandoned every sense of what others may consider “dignity” because the moment, the euphoric place they are in is more important than what anyone can or will think of them.
I remember being at a family wedding and feeling like I was living an out of body experience. I sat back and watched my sons, aged 9 and 12 at the time, keep up with the adults and share in making memories of happiness. They were so thrilled to be allowed to stay up and dance into the morning celebrating love, joy and family. They had more energy than me. They were living the dream and loving it! I too was loving what I was privileged to see!
We can be before him with confidence in whatever rhythm, whatever beat and know that it makes his heart glad.
One of the things I find attractive about my husband is watching him dance. He’s got moves! It makes my heart very glad. It makes my heart beat fast. It reminds me of my feelings of pure love for him. And when I am dancing in his arms, I am in a world that no one can pull me from. I am safe. I am comfortable. I am exactly where I want to be.
I am sure that by now you all know where I am going with my illustrations.
Dancing is a natural expression and experience that brings joy. I truly believe that one of the things we were created to do was dance. It is a natural outward showing that we have a reason to celebrate.
When I think about all that God has done, is doing and will do for us, I sometimes wonder why we miss our opportunity of dancing before the Lord. As we have seen people dance with confidence, abandoning all their dignity, we too can dance before the Lord like David, because the place we are in, is giving us all we need and showing all our joy. Like David in 2 Samuel 6:22, we can say, “I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.…” Being before the Lord in this posture of freedom is more important than what anyone can say or think. We can be before him with confidence in whatever rhythm, whatever beat and know that it makes his heart glad. He is pleased with the dance of worship we bring before him. He watches and smiles. In fact, he joins you! Zephaniah 3:17 makes it very clear that the Lord rejoices over us and dances for joy over us. The Lord dances too!!
The family wedding that I was at, where I watched my boys dance- I was sick. We had made the trip to Italy knowing that I was coming back to one of the major seasons of illness that I had to walk through. Dancing or watching them dance caused my experience to be as Psalm 30:11 states,
“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness.” There was much to celebrate in that moment. We were able to go and make lasting memories and while there, the Lord kept me in his strength. Dancing before the Lord lifts us to a place where we truly are living an out of body experience. It takes us to a very spiritual and holy experience. We are lifted to God’s presence as we are lifted in his presence. We can celebrate, be given his joy and be reminded that he is Abba Father Daddy-we are his family and we are loved.
As I am attracted to my husband when he dances, God is attracted to us as we dance before him. God gives us the gift of dance and then gives blessings to us as we do. As Jeremiah 31:13 “Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.” Knowing that God meets with me, I feel safe. You can’t pull me from him in these moments. I am comfortable and exactly where I need to be. Dancing before the Lord in worship brings you to a place where you remember the pure love of God for you and the love you have for him.
Some people may not like or understand your dance, just as we read in 1 Chronicles 15:29, about Michal- David’s wife. In fact, she despised him. There are many who despise dancing. Many who think it is wrong. They don’t know what God has done for you. They don’t know what God is going to do for you. They miss out on rejoicing with God. I know that I am not going to miss out on any dance of victory before and with my God. I am not going to miss out on the fruit that comes from my dance of obedience. Scripture encourages us many times to dance, maybe it has something to do with stomping on the enemy?! Let’s dance today! The Lord does take pleasure in us!
Psalm 149:3-4
Let them praise His name with dancing;
Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre. For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.
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