It was an overwhelming feeling of being trapped in my circumstances and suffering. I felt my life had been checkmated by the enemy; captured by him and held in torment. Heavy hearted I walked into the house of prayer. Wanting to be filled up and propped up so I wouldn’t have to feel the pain inside anymore, I sat down in the second row. I went there with the purpose to be healed in my heart and to be heard. I had selfish motives. I did not go with the pure intent to bless God with praise and worship. Of course I’m not saying I was against it, I would have loved to have had a different mindset and I believe in offering a sacrifice of praise but I just felt I had nothing to give that day.

But as Ryan, one of the songwriters of “Worthy of It All”, played his guitar and sang, I closed my eyes and let the music wash over me. The music penetrated past all my thoughts about myself. I remember the shift happening as the lyrics cracked through my hard shell of defense and set in.

“Worthy of It All”
Words by David Brymer 
Music by David Brymer and Ryan Hall

All the saints and angels bow before Your throne 
All the elders cast their crowns before the Lamb of God and sing

You are worthy of it all, You are worthy of it all 
For from You are all things, and to You are all things, You deserve the glory

Day and night, night and day, let incense arise
Day and night, night and day, let incense arise
Day and night, night and day, let incense arise
Day and night, night and day, let incense arise 

Lyrics straight out of the book of Revelation chapter 4 and Romans 11:36; His Word repeated over and over. My heart posture changed in that moment from one of despair to be one of total and utter devotion to Jesus Christ. It is something I cannot describe in words other than to say it took me away from myself and placed me before His throne where I was lost in reverence and wonder of Him, in complete humility and brokenness.

One by one my tears fell and literally formed a puddle on the ground as I realized the answer to the ultimate checkmate question:

Is Jesus worthy?

The answer will always be YES. 

But this is not a sorrowful checkmate, it is joyful when the revelation truly hits. He really is worthy of our time, attention and devotion. He is worthy of our gaze and whole heart. He is worthy of our sharing in His suffering. He IS and will always be WORTHY of it ALL.

Revelation 4

4 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here,and I will show you what must take place after this.” ² At once I was in the Spirit,and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. ³ And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. ⁴ Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵ From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits^[a] of God. ⁶ Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. ⁷ The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.⁸ Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’^[b]

who was, and is, and is to come.”

⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

¹¹ “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”

Romans 11:36

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.