Young people can praise God, too

This is such a random and unscheduled post, but I had to blog while I'm thinking about this.

This past Wednesday night, the youth at my church (Rock Church, in Virginia Beach) led the regular mid-week service (they usually have a separate service in a separate building). I didn't know until late the night before the change in service plans, but on Sunday morning, God told me I needed to be in church Wednesday night.

Before I go on, I should mention that I work for a newspaper, so I work at night and don't get the chance to make it to any evening services. But, God really gave me no choice this week. I HAD to be there.

So, I took off work.

I arrived early, at about 6:30 p.m., to pray with a few of the other youth leaders before service started at 7 p.m. It started out just three of us. A lot of Wednesday night regulars trickled in and wondered what was going on. But, the more we prayed, the more everyone else fell in sync.

After about 30 minutes, the entire sanctuary was filled with nothing but the sound of people worshipping God. People sang and shouted; we spake in the heavenly language as if it were our native tongue. It was amazing.

Once the service started, those in charge decided to give the announcements (something usually done after the praise team sings) before the service began. As I sat during the announcements, my body continued to sway back and forth. I tried to keep still, but God's presence was so strong. I couldn't, and didn't want to, stop praising Him.

Once the praise team (composed of youth leaders) began to sing, worship started all over again. And that's all we did for the entire service.

Young and older people were stretched out in front of the alter singing and praising...I left that place with such a high...and it hasn't gone away.

Thinking about that service makes me think of the scripture in the first chapter of Jeremiah. When God calls Jeremiah to prophecy to Israel, Jeremiah tells God in verse 6 "...behold I cannot speak: for I am a child."

God responds with this:

"Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
"Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
"Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me,
Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth."

If God has given you a word to share, even if it's just a word for a friend or relative, don't hold back. Let God shine through you. And if he hasn't given you a word yet, praise Him until he does.

Back in Jeremiah's day (the Old Testament or God's old covenant with Israel) only a select few could get close to God and were able to deliver His word. But when Jesus died on the cross for the remission of sins, God did something marvelous...He gave us His spirit.

Because of Christ, God lives in us, not just among us. We have a direct line of communication with Him...and we do that through prayer, praise and worship.

Don't ever think you are too young to usher in God's presence.