How Good It Is

There is something very powerful that occurs when God's people come together and engage in corporate worship.  I believe that as we humble ourselves before Him and surrender to His presence, that the Spirit of God will move among us, and we can experience the touch of His hand on our lives - as Psalm 22 (ESV) reminds us:
3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

The King James said says that God "inhabitest the praises of Israel."

On a Good Friday in Nashville each year for 10 years now, thousands have gathered at Bridgestone Arena for an evening of praise and worship, led by Chris Tomlin.  My wife and I attended last year and already have tickets for next year's event.  Honestly, it's a tough ticket - we waited too late to get tickets in the lower bowl for this year, so I was ordering 2027 tickets the night before Good Friday.  

The website Music Row quotes Chris Tomlin as saying, “I never would have dreamed we’d be 10 years down the road with this Good Friday Nashville concert,” adding, “It’s been quite a beautiful journey and something that I look forward to every year.”

The article goes on to say:

The roots of the event trace back well before its Nashville debut. Tomlin first experienced the impact of a multi-church Good Friday gathering while living in Houston, later continuing the model in Atlanta. When he relocated to Nashville, he saw an opportunity to build something similar, though he admits he didn’t anticipate its eventual scale. Over the past decade, Good Friday Nashville has grown into the largest ticketed Christian concert ever held at Bridgestone Arena, while also becoming the venue’s longest-running annual charity-related event. It now ranks among the most significant recurring concerts in the building’s history, tying with Taylor Swift for the second-most headlining appearances.

And, the proceeds benefit a ministry.  The article says, "Each year, proceeds are funneled back into the community, supporting initiatives tied to foster care and adoption through For Others, the nonprofit founded by Tomlin and his wife, Lauren. The organization has since grown into a national network connecting donors, nonprofits, businesses and government partners to address the foster care crisis."

The event has acquired a reputation for its special guests, and this year was no exception for the 10th anniversary.  Last year, Phil Wickham was among the guests.  This year, Michael W. Smith was part of the lineup, along with Hillsong's Brooke Ligertwood, Dwan Hill and The Choir Room, and an Iranian artist named Golnosh Khorasani, who gave thanks to participants on Instagram, including speaker David Nasser, perhaps best known for his years of service at Liberty University, who now leads For Others.  He also used to pastor in Birmingham.

It's incredible to be in the midst of 15,000 people lifting up praises to the Lord.  And, I believe that God will meet us in our corporate worship no matter the size of the room or the crowd.  We should ideally come into the presence of God with an expectancy that He will meet us that He will show up and do His sovereign work in our lives.

We can also reflect on how we commune with God each day.  It can be in a consistent quiet time, in prayer, calling out to God and listening to His Spirit, and in the reading and study of His Word.  Decide on how you want to read the Scripture, execute the plan, dig deep into His Words, and allow the Holy Spirit to show you fresh wisdom from the Word.

And, throughout our daily activities, we can maintain a sense of His presence.  That can even be through personal worship time, maybe even as we drive or walk. Please remember, listener-support Faith Radio can keep you company with rich, solid Bible teaching and music that can usher you into the presence of God and remind you of His goodness and love.  You can listen on your radio, through your smartphone, on your computer, and in a variety of ways - through a live signal, live streaming, or on-demand at your convenience.