Just Dance

You know, amidst all the drama that re-occurs in life, I really take pleasure in the solitude of my home to just worship God the best way that I know how, and that’s in dance. Without the formalities of moving to every cue perfectly, the extravagant attire and the scrutinizing eyes that pierce through to certain depths of your mind and heart, one can experience His presence ever so richly!

I remember when I first felt God doing something in me where dance was concerned; I was just sixteen years old. I saw my mentor back then for a brief moment, display with great charisma and class the gift that God had established in her. I was somehow impacted at how God honored her praise. I seen many dance before but something about her gave me goosebumps (the good kind!)

Later that evening, with much excitement and very little knowledge of what I was going to do with my body, I palyed various songs after locking the door, turned up the volume and began to let loose! Playing nothing but worship I had felt as though, this body was no longer my own. My hands and feet were not under my mind’s command, but somehow they moved about!

I achieved movement of so many variations, that it amazed me, that within a few moments I had created dances to many different songs.  It ws my first experience of the Holy Spirit dweeling ever so strongly through that medium of praise. Six hours later…no lie about it, I had to tell myself to stop. “Wow! So long I was in here!” I asked myself.

When I left the privacy of my bedroom I felt refreshed, empowered and unstoppable. Something about dance and praise upon my lips has always caused me to rise above every negative feeling. It's literally my way of placing on a garment of praise and connecting with God again to get away from the grips of fear, doubt, insecurity, worry and depression.

When I dance, I liken myself to David in 2Samuel 6:21. He proudly danced before the Lord with great fullness of heart and thanks giving for the bringing back of the Ark of the Covenant safely to his household. We too must learn once again to just expose our selves before the Lord and show our gratitude for all He has done in our lives. God takes pleasure in us being undignified sometimes! Loosen up and shake those burdens off!

Dance by definition of Wikipedia.com, is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting.

It also states more specifically that, Liturgical dance is dance that is incorporated into worship services. It is an expression of prayer or worship through body movement.

I think that it’s one of the most perfect ways to begin the week. Ecclesiastes 3:4 says that there is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. Let us allow Him to turn our mourning into dancing: and gird us with gladness (Psa 30:11).

Let them praise his name in the dance (Psa 149:3). So what are you waiting for?! Plug in you iPod and reverence God with all your heart through the dance and see what an experience you can get in His presence!

Written by :

Esther James

 

Features - Opinion