Jamin Bradley

When someone sends you a birthday card that only has their signature in it, it carries very little weight. Sure, the sender remembered it was your birthday and chose the card for you, but a personal touch could have easily enhanced the card immensely.

Some people like to bash worship music for being too personal. “Who are we really worshipping in this song?” they’ll ask. “So many of these lyrics are about what God is doing in us or for us or to us.”

Yes, just like so many of the Psalms. There’s nothing wrong with high-praise songs that reflect only on God, but adding yourself into the lyrics does not suddenly make the song all about you. Imagine opening a birthday card where someone wrote, “My life has been forever changed by you. Thank you for being my friend and walking with me over the last year. I don’t know where I’d be if you hadn’t stepped in.” You wouldn’t you roll your eyes at such a comment and think to yourself, “Wow, they’re so full of themselves.” Right?

Of course not! It is the referencing of your relationship that makes the card weighty. As they revel in what you have done for them, your heart is filled up. Their words don’t hit as selfish—rather, they hit as praise. What you read is, “I have forever changed a life. They are my true friend and my commitment to them matters. I am so important to their journey that they could be really lost today if it wasn’t for me.”

God made you not just because he loves you, but because he likes you. And because he likes you, he wants to hear how his work and presence have shaped your life. He wants to hear your specific testimony with your specific words. Sure, there’s classic poetry you can choose to share with him, but he also wants to hear the poetry of your own soul. Don’t be afraid to allow your relationship to give way to worship.