Don’t hide your enthusiasm

"I like a cook who smiles out loud when he tastes his own work. Let God worry about your modesty; I want to see your enthusiasm." - Robert Farrar Capon

I love this quote. Sometimes, we try to stay modest and not draw attention to ourselves because we want all the focus on the Lord. We get told to tone it down or we think that we must “decrease so He can increase”.

But humans are emotional and therefore respond primarily to emotion. When we see someone enjoying something, it piques our interest. If someone loves a meal, a laughs at something on their phone or gets excited about a movie they just saw, their enthusiasm makes us curious. We think, "If it made them so happy, it might be worth checking out."

Imagine someone talking about a great movie in a dull tone because they don't want to overshadow the director's glory. That would be ridiculous and certainly wouldn't encourage anyone to watch it. Humans are driven by heart and emotion. When there's joy, passion, and excitement in someone's expression, we're naturally drawn to it.

In the Gospels, when early disciples told their family ‘ friends about Jesus, they said things like "come and see." On paper, it looks simple, but their enthusiasm & wonder must have been evident. The way they said it or the look in their eyes as they said it conveyed the unspoken message: “everything has changed”. They left their boats and businesses to follow Him because there was something compelling in the invitation.

So when you're singing, speaking, or leading worship, don't tone it down. It's like the moon saying it doesn't want to shine too bright because it doesn’t want to distract from the sun. Shine bright and be enthusiastic. Let your heart's intensity show in what you do. God can take it… in fact good Father’s don’t feel diminished when their child shines… ‘good fathers’, I said.

One of the greatest witnesses is showing your true emotion and enthusiasm. Lead worship and sing inspired by who He is. Let people see and feel your passion.

Don’t fake it. Lean back into His presence. Know He loves you and is proud of you. Sing from that place with uninhibited enthusiasm. Respect your culture but let your emotions flow naturally.

Be a joyful worshipper. See you later!