I'm a middle-age, conservative Southern Baptist and I don't dance--not because of my religion, but because of my rhythm, or my lack thereof. I'll sing, I'll sway, I might even tap my foot a bit, but I don't dance. But that night...I danced. Oh, I looked goofy all right--God didn't choose that moment to suddenly make me light on my feet, I was not suddenly endowed with a supernatural sense of rhythm...but I WAS freed from the chains that sometimes keep me from dancing, both literally and figuratively. Self-image, fear of failure and ridicule, depressive tendencies are just a few of the things that have shackled me, but God wants us to be FREE from those things.
Jesus said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
David danced before the ark of the covenant, because he was free to love God. David danced, practically "nekkid" in the middle of the streets with all the little servant girls around. His wife, Abigail, was shackled by pride and fear of what others would think, and she was absolutely dismayed to see her husband, the King, carrying on in such an undignified manner. She tried to talk some "sense" into him and enlightened him about what a complete fool he had made of himself...David's response was to tell her that he would become "even more undignified than this" if that's what worshipping God led him to do.
That conference was months ago, but I'm still learning to dance, and I'm discovering that as I learn to, as Paul put it in Heb 12:1-2, "lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us..." I find it easier and easier to worship Jesus my Lord and live my life "unshackled."
I could say LOTS more about this topic, but am developing it as a topic for my speaking ministry, so I'm not going to give it all away here....
What keeps your heart from dancing before the Lord? What weighs you down and shackles you to this world, instead of feeling the freedom God gave us through Christ? Give your burdens to Jesus!! He asked you to, you know: "Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest (Mat. 11:28)." Then put on some music, and dance!!
Shackles(Praise You) by Mary Mary:
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you
(What'cha wanna do?)
I just wanna praise you
(Yeah, yeah)
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
(Uh feel me?)
And I'm gonna praise you
(What'cha gon do?)
I'm gonna praise you
In the corners of mind
I just can't seem to find a reason to believe
That I can break free
Cause you see I have been down for so long
Feel like the hope is gone
But as I lift my hands, I understand
That I should praise you through my circumstance
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise you
I'm gonna praise you
Everything that could go wrong
All went wrong at one time
So much pressure fell on me
I thought I was gon lose my mind
But I know you wanna see
If I will hold on through these trials
But I need you to lift this load
Cause I can't take it anymore
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise you
I'm gonna praise you
Been through the fire and the rain
Bound in every kind of way
But God has broken every chain
So let me go right now
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise you
I'm gonna praise you
[repeat x3]
Take them off
What'cha gonna do, yeah
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise you
I'm gonna praise you
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