Despite all the current Progressive^[1] ideas and questions ‘doing the rounds’ about whether Jesus actually wanted to be worshipped, and despite many other ideas too also trying to neuter the idea of bowing down in worship and submission to Jesus the King, I myself can think of no other place I’d rather be than worshipping at His feet.

There is a wholeness, indeed a holiness, in Jesus’s Presence that, for those whose hearts have the ears to hear and the eyes to see, is simply irresistible. Here is the Pearl of Great Price; here is a consciousness of the Presence of God which is as incomparable as it is genuine, as it is real. Even as I sit here and type this piece, my heart is full of worship for Jesus and full of gratitude for what He’s done for me – both 2,000 years ago, and also in my recent past right up to the present day.

At Jesus’s feet is blessing. At Jesus’s feet is understanding. At His feet are acceptance, forgiveness, total and complete peace, healing, reassurance, faith and above all, Love. The Love indeed, that will never let me go.

Why would I want to deny that, either for myself or, worse, for others?

No, I am a worship leader and I always will be^[2], despite it being nearly ten years since I have played in a church, and despite it being something like eight or nine years since I actually led a worship meeting. And how I manifest it today; how I bring people into the Presence of God, is to put worship music tracks, that God asks me to use, onto my blog for people to worship along to. And I do this with an absolute certainty that God will use those songs to bring some of my readers into His Presence. Not everyone will be touched by the music; and not everyone will feel as if they want to go along with the idea either. But let me gently tell you that in His Presence is peace, healing and Love, if you will simply let Him minister to you using that music.

Even – and especially – if you have been badly hurt (as I have) by other Christians. Even if you feel like God has let you down. Even if you feel that He can never understand you, nor can He reach you in your place of need: know that He is here with me and He’s there with you too.

And so here is the beautiful song ‘Come, let us worship and bow down’, from the Christ for the Nations tape ‘The Lord Reigneth’, published in the UK by Harvestime as ‘Celebrate’.

Don’t let the source of the music put you off^[3]. Yes, this was sung by essentially a Fundamentalist, Evangelical group (albeit some 40 years ago!). But the key to it is your heart. Let your heart use the music as a vehicle to help you transition into a consciousness of the Presence of God. He’s there all the time anyway; all we are doing here is making you aware of that, and enabling you to enjoy His Presence. Yes, enjoy His presence. That’s what humans are designed for; the Westminster Shorter Catechism suggests that ‘the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever’. The Hebrew Psalmists’ work is full of references to the joy of being in God’s Presence, for example in Psalm 16:11, “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand”. There’s nothing wrong with joy; with enjoying God. Many miserable grey Christian killjoys would suggest that if you’re happy then you must be sinning, but in fact the ultimate joy is to be in God’s Presence. There’s just no place else I’d rather be.

For those whose hearts are turned towards Him, worship is a natural extension of a life lived in His Presence. Out of the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks.

Right, time for me to stop blathering and give you the song. Lyrics are given below the track itself. I’ve also included another two songs: Be Exalted O God and Now Unto Him Who is Able, for your further encouragement. Into His tangible Presence we go…

Come, let us worship and bow down
Come, let us worship and bow down
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker
For He is our God, He is our God
He is our God, He is our God

And we are the people of His pasture
And the sheep of His hand

I will give thanks to Thee
O Lord among the people
I will sing praises to Thee among the nations
For Thy steadfast Love is great
Is great to the heavens
And Thy faithfulness, Thy faithfulness to the clouds

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens
Let Thy glory be over all the earth
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens
Let Thy glory be over all the earth

Now unto Him Who is able to keep you from falling
And to make you stand in His Presence blameless and with great joy
To the only God our saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord
Be the glory and the majesty, dominion and authority
For now and ever amen!

I hope this post has blessed you beyond anything you had ever imagined would happen before you began reading it! And it would not surprise me in the least if that has been the case!

Grace and Peace to you!