Worship in Spirit & Truth
Written by Mrs. Hollie Benoit, Specifics Level Lead Teacher
“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God.” Psalm 95:6
In a world where differences such as skin color or clothing brand can drive children apart, making them feel insecure and alone, our students are being unified in their love for the Lord. This semester our older and younger students have combined classes for our weekly Chapel. As students transitioned into this new phase during the last few weeks, we as teachers have encouraged them to spend time together, getting to know each other on a deeper level.
Scenes like this are what make the Academy’s weekly chapel services a distinct part of our students’ week. Growing together in prayer and support for one another is a precious lesson the students are learning.
Chapel is the one time during the week when all four classes at these levels come together except for lunch and recess. There were understandable insecurities the first few times among the younger students: “who will I sit next to”, “what do these older kids think of me”, among others. Recently, we were blessed to witness the overflowing presence of the Lord in the room as the children allowed for freedom in worship to occur: on their knees, crying out to the Lord, hands raised in worship to God with all their heart.
I often find myself getting caught up in worship doing the same, closing my eyes and raising my hands. During this particular Chapel though, I heard small cries to the Lord which turned to weeping. When I opened my eyes to check on the students, I was overcome with the sight before me. Several students, of varying levels, from all four classes, were around the child who had been overcome by the Lord’s presence. They were laying their hands on them, praying for them, worshipping the Lord together, embracing and supporting each other during what can feel like such a vulnerable moment.
The past weeks have been building to this culminating moment, and they were getting to experience unity together, the way the Lord teaches us. They released all insecurities and were genuinely free to worship alongside one another in complete vulnerability and truth. In John 4:24, Jesus teaches that “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Our students are overcoming any differences to support one another, pray for one another, love one another, and depend on each other. I am so incredibly thankful for moments like these that remind us of the Lord’s goodness and his promise to be with us always.
We all have spiritual giftings and differences, and recognizing our differences is useful. However, those differences should not separate us but instead should be the very thing that encourages us to thrive in our role in the body of Christ. I’m proud to see a generation of children who see each other the way God made them different, but yet the same, all created in His image. These students are living this out daily, and the work the Lord is doing in them never stops amazing me!
