Entering His Courts with 'Tehillah' Praise
Psalm 100:4
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and bless His Name.”
As a Worship Arts and Media (WAM) Team, we do more than prepare music, visuals, lighting, lyrics, or sound—we create pathways for people to encounter God. Psalm 100:4 reminds us that access to God’s presence is not primarily technical; it is spiritual. We enter His courts not through excellence alone, but through praise.
The Hebrew word for praise in this verse is תְּהִלָּה (Tehillah). Tehillah means “praise,” “song of praise,” or “glory,” and it specifically refers to spontaneous, heartfelt, and often unrehearsed worship that flows from the soul and invites God’s presence. It comes from the root halal—to boast, shine, or joyfully proclaim.
This is especially significant for those of us who serve in worship arts and media. We often rehearse, plan, program, cue, and prepare—and excellence matters. But tehillah reminds us that true worship cannot be manufactured. It must be released.
Our instruments, voices, cameras, graphics, lights, and sound systems are not the praise themselves—they are vessels. Tehillah is the spiritual breath that fills those vessels. Without it, worship becomes a performance. With it, worship becomes a holy invitation for God to dwell among His people (Psalm 22:3).
When a musician plays from the overflow of devotion, when a vocalist sings with a heart engaged, when a camera operator frames moments with spiritual sensitivity, when a media or tech member serves attentively and prayerfully— 'Tehillah' is happening. The team is not just supporting worship; the team is worshiping.
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Excellence prepares the platform; praise invites the presence.
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Rehearsal trains our skills; 'Tehillah' trains our hearts.
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Media and tech do not stand behind worship—they participate in it.
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Spontaneous praise leaves room for the Holy Spirit to move beyond the plan.
Before we ask, “Are we ready technically?” we must ask, “Are we ready spiritually?”
Reflection Questions
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As a worship or media team member, how do you personally prepare your heart before preparing your role?
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In what ways can 'tehillah'—spontaneous, Spirit-led praise—be expressed in your specific area of service?
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Are there moments when technical excellence becomes a substitute for spiritual sensitivity?
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How can the team create space during services for genuine, unrehearsed worship while still honouring structure?
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What would change if every team member saw their role as an act of worship, not just support?
Prayer
"Father God...Thank You for calling us to serve through worship, arts, and media. Today, we choose tehillah—praise that flows freely from our hearts, not just from our rehearsals. Purify our motives. Align our spirits. Let every note, lyric, image, cue, and transition become an offering that invites Your presence. Guard us from performance and lead us into authentic worship. May what we create point people not to us, but to You.
We enter Your courts together with praise and bless Your holy Name. Amen."
"Worship Arts and Media Teams are gatekeepers of atmosphere. When we enter His courts with 'tehillah', our service becomes more than sound and visuals—it becomes a sacred encounter."
When skill is surrendered and praise is released, God’s presence is revealed.