Recently I had a profound prophetic vision in which the Holy Spirit spoke to me, “Worship God while waiting in the hallway!” Before I give you more details about this vision, allow me to give a little background.

Have you ever wondered where in the Bible the word “worship” is first mentioned? We probably think it comes from the life of King David or some other skilled “worshiper.” The first-time something is mentioned in scripture is extremely important. This is called the “law of first mention.” In this case, surprisingly, worship has nothing to do with instruments, vocal projection, a choir, or any such thing.

It’s found in Genesis 22:5, set in the lives of Abraham and Isaac. “And Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.’” Abraham, by the Word of the Lord, was going to offer up his son of faith, Isaac, as a burnt offering on Mount Moriah.  What a profound, complex, and yet straightforward statement!

Genesis 22:8 continues, “And Abraham said, ‘My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.’” This is an extraordinary prophetic narrative that unfolds in its typology.  Of course, Jesus is our sacrificial Lamb, and His life laid down for us is the ultimate act of worship as the Son of God who became the Son of Man. Stunning indeed.

So what does worship mean if it is not a group of instruments playing harmoniously together? Worship, simply put, is to bow down in your heart before God. Worship in its purest form is not as much about the externals, it is about the internal posture of the heart. Worship is an act of surrender.

A Vision to Remember

Recently while doing a Q&A session for one of my online classes, I went into a short vision. I saw myself standing at the end of a hallway with multiple doors in front of me. It appeared to be a place of transition and the question permeated the encounter, “Which door do I go through? What am I supposed to do next? Do I knock on the doors, or do I wait for one to sovereignly open?”

HallwayI did not know if this was a hospital corridor or an office complex, but what was certain—it was a Hallway of Transition. Yet, what was expected of me? What was to be my response? Then, the voice of the Holy Spirit came to me saying, “Worship God while waiting in the hallway.”

The proper response became ever so clear to me, in an instant. We each face times of uncertainty and enter the Hallways of the Unknown. What are we to do? If there was an 11th Commandment, I think it might be, “Thou Shalt Not Sweat It!”  An important key as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ is this, “Worship God while waiting in the Hallway.”

Worship Precedes Breakthrough

Let’s surrender all to Jesus. Let’s bow down in our heart before the Lord our Maker. Let’s be like Abraham and make a declaration, “I will arise and worship the Lord!” Let’s enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.

May we remember that worship and praise always precede every breakthrough. Know this, your sacrifice matters and your waiting mixed with worship will pay off! I know. Don’t quit. Worship God while waiting in the hallway!

With Eager Anticipation,

James W. Goll


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