What’s in a handkerchief?

What’s in a handkerchief, you ask? In a word, expectation.

Let’s start from the beginning. On Sundays, I carry a handkerchief for couple of reasons. First, to wipe away the radiance I exude over my face (otherwise also known as oil). Unlike Moses, whose face shone with God’s radiance as he lingered in God’s presence, my face sparkles, not with His holiness, but with my oiliness. This is a fact. I do however wish that I might exude God’s radiance in my face. More than simply in my face, I want His radiance more in my life, so that I can be His fragrance to those around me. Wouldn’t it be great, if we all exude His fragrance in our lives, because our decisions, our actions and our words continue to conform into the likeness of Christ, our Lord? Let’s pray for each other much, so that we can be more like Him.

The more important reason why I carry a handkerchief to the worship is, in a word, expectation. Let me explain. I come with the expectation to meet with my God in the worship. When I see God’s people meet their holy Maker in the Scriptures, they are broken. Similarly, when I believe I have encountered the living presence of our holy God in our worship, I am broken, which usually results in a broken heartedness over my sins and a deep gratitude for His unconditional love and grace. Such experience opens up the tear gate of my eyes, and they begin to spill over. And if I am not prepared with a handkerchief to meet my tears, then I have to use my suit to wipe away my tears, which is usually not a very good look for a pastor leading in worship and preaching.

So, you see, my handkerchief is a sign of my faith, that I am expecting to meet with my God in our worship. May I ask, how do you prepare to meet with your God? Do you come to the worship expecting to meet the holy and awesome God? If you are not sure how to meet with your God, may I encourage you to bring a handkerchief to your worship of our God, expecting to meet with Him, expecting for His holiness and love to break us? It is my prayer that all of God’s people will always enter into His presence in worship with the expectation to meet with our God.

Entering worship with an expectation can change your worship and your life!