God is Multilingual!

One of the things that has been inhibitive to me during my tenure in Arica has been the language.  I prepared by starting Rosetta Stone before coming here and it helped but my conversational Spanish is far from where it needs to be.  I can understand more when standing on the outside of conversations or when i'm reading.  I have a really hard time identifying what people are asking or saying to me, partly because I can't think in Spanish as fast as they can speak it.

Church is usually the hardest for me, I sing along because the words are projected on the wall and I rarely recognize the song unless its an old hymn.  The times I do recall the words I will sometimes sing the English words just because it's easier for me to do so.  I always felt on the outside of worship services because although I could read the words to the songs, I didn't always know exactly what I was saying.  This Sunday though that changed for me,  during praise and worship we sang a song that I am familiar with and one that I love, "Worthy is the Lamb."  I have this song on my iPod and I am very familiar with the words and message of the song.  I felt that while singing the song in Spanish I was really worshipping because for the first time in 6 weeks I understood exactly the words and message of the song.  During that time though I felt God tell me that he had heard and understood me all along.  It was then that I was reminded that worship is a heart matter and not dependent on words coming out of our mouth, but rather the condition of the heart we approach our Creator with.

"...For the Lord sees not as man sees;

man looks on the outward appearance,

but the Lord looks on the heart."

1 Samuel 16:7

I was reminded that worship isn't just songs we sing on Sunday but the way we live our lives every single day.  It's how we treat others, how we respond to those who speak against us and how we live our life, etc.  God sees our hearts, God understands me whether I'm singing word for word in English with total comprehension or if I'm singing in broken Spanish just grasping the gist of the message of the song.  Entering worship with a heart of thanksgiving, a heart of humbleness and a heart of complete surrender, even if we don't fully understand the words we speak; God sees us, hears us and loves us all the same.

"My son, be attentive to my words; 

incline your ear to my sayings.

Let them no escape from your sight;

keep them within your heart.

For they are life to those who find them,

and healing to all their flesh.

Keep your heart with all vigilance,

for from it flows the springs of life."

Proverbs 4:20-23