What are your thoughts about worship? What comes to mind when I say the word? Does it move your thoughts to church? To a service, you attended somewhere? Does it lead you to an event? Perhaps it’s a thing you do – like singing songs that lift up God’s name feels like worship?
What if I told you that worship was the response within us – that demonstrates our valuing and treasuring God. It’s the heart’s cry and the demonstration of my mind’s knowledge that is placing value on God. We were in fact – like all creation – designed to not only be in relationship with God – but to bask in the awe and wonder of who God is and embrace – even celebrate – the fact that God allows it to be so! His presence is not something we deserve. It is not something we earn. It’s something that came at a great cost to Him.
Out of the overflow of our gratitude – and in the midst of our dark times of crisis – God deserves our worship. He deserves our praise. He wants our focus. He desires our hearts and minds to lock onto His truth.
I don’t know about you – but I am finding that I simply don’t do well when I am not worshiping. The trick is – for many, worship is easy to do – the problem is making sure they are worshiping the right thing. God alone, deserves our worship. He alone. Not my job. Not my successes. Not my love. Not my hobbies. Not my mentors. Not my friends. God alone.
When we worship we will find ourselves worshiping the LORD either with our mouths – much like David’s example in the Psalms – or with acts of love – like service or being the hands and feet of Jesus. Both stem from a desire to demonstrate the value or love we have for our LORD.
Worship matters. Worship matters to God. He wants us to enter into a love relationship with Him. He wants us to demonstrate our love for Him as He continually demonstrates His love for us.
How can I worship God if I don’t know Him? How can I worship God if I am distracted? How can I worship God is I don’t make time to do so?
Worship may be what God desires – but entering into a time of worship is what I need because it is then that I feel most connected to my Father. It is then that I am aware of His nearness. It is then that I best feel His love. My soul is made for it. Thirsty for it.
I love these words of worship – of praise and adoration towards my Father. I didn’t write them. Someone else did. But still, my heart resounds with them. They become my thoughts. My words. “How amazing are the deeds of the LORD! All who delight in Him should ponder them. Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails.” (Psalm 111:2-3) EVERYTHING He does reveals His glory, majesty, righteousness, and extravagant love!
“He causes us to remember His wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our LORD!” (Psalm 111:4) I am so grateful for His prompting. The truth is that as I age and as stress increases my memory decreases. I can easily forget things – let alone acts of love. I can lose sight of them. But God causes me to remember! He sparks my memory of His goodness! Of His faithfulness! Of His presence! How gracious He is indeed!
“All He does is just and good, and all His commandments are trustworthy. They are forever true, to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.” (Psalm 111:7-8) O LORD, you are good! You and you alone are the standard for what is good and what is just. We would do well, LORD, to seek you and your commands and live by them. You do not mean us harm, but instead, you desire right living from us so that you can extend your hand of blessings upon us! LORD God, help us to realize that Your ways are so much better than our ways! LORD, help us to stop trying to pick and choose which commandments to follow, but instead LORD, may we continually place your word before us. Speak to us. You are a God who speaks. You are not silent. Tune our ears to Your voice. Speak and help us to respond in obedience.
LORD God, thank you for who you are! Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your compassion and desire for us to be made right with you even when we have blown it and sinned against you. Thank you, LORD, for the many times that you have demonstrated your care for us by showering us with blessings. So many miracles and acts of provision. LORD, some we see and yet we know that there are even more still that we were unaware of or did not recognize as your hand. O LORD, forgive our oversight! Forgive us for believing that anything we have is separated from your allowing or bringing it to happen. You are the LORD of all things! You deserve our praise! You deserve our glory! You deserve our very lives – help us to give them back freely for you to use! LORD, cleanse us from our unrighteousness. Heal your people. Restore us to right relationship with you. Father convict us. Help us to be willing to stand for you and with you. Make us bold in our faith and worship of you. No longer content to stay silent – to praise you in private – but LORD God embolden us to share of your greatness to all who would be placed in our lives. They need you, LORD. Just as we have needed you. Help open the doors of opportunity to share about who you are!
LORD, may we never tire of worshiping you. May we join in with all of the angels in heaven – with all creation – in praising your name! You are holy. Thank you, LORD. Thank you for staying constant.
May our worship no longer be limited. But abound in our everyday experiences. Open our eyes to see your hand. Open our hearts to receive your love. Open our hands to extend your love to others.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Blessings!