TRUE WORSHIP
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." Mark 12:30
Over the years I've learnt some important lessons about TRUE WORSHIP, most importantly that God desires ALL OF ME. Not just on Sunday when I go to Church or when I put on my worship music, but every hour of every day.
"Let us be grateful and worship God in a way that pleases Him." Hebrews 12:28
"True worshipers will worship in spirit and in truth, for these are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." John 4:23
Worship must be `genuine and heartfelt, authentically representing YOUR love for God. *1
A few years ago I learnt an important lesson about worship: MY WAY IS NOT THE ONLY WAY! God made us `different', so it stands to reason that we will worship Him differently. What God wants is `honest' worship from sincere hearts. *2
Just after our son's wedding Mark and I took 6 weeks off to travel with some special friends (we call them Mum and Dad) around some northern and western areas of Queensland. Now I am not a great one for scenery, but I discovered my mum could find God in any natural setting. As an `ascetic' worshiper I enjoy my solitude and simplicity. I soon discovered that these natural settings were a wonderful place to for this quiet and uncomplicated worship.
I also discovered that my dad was quite traditional in his worship - enjoying his rituals and liturgy. As an `enthusiast' I love to celebrate my love for the Lord. Sometimes I enjoy my worship with dance and clapping my hands. I love my hymns and and worship music and just get so excited about giving glory and honour to God. I guess that's why I smile when I sing. But again, I discovered that I can celebrate in any setting, even through ritual and liturgy.
"Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship". Romans 12:1
So far I have been concentrating on worship mainly from a `musical' sense, but according to Gary Thomas' `Sacred Pathways', there are many other aspects to worship. *2 Most of us are `sensates' and `contemplatives', loving beautiful worship services and adoration, but there are other places, outside of Church where worship is just as significant.
CAREGIVERS worship by loving others. They see needs and they meet them. This is their true spiritual worship. I sometimes worry when Mark is tired and grumpy that he has lost his worshipful spirit. But the other day, while travelling on the train, he showed me this wasn't true. When he saw a woman needing help with her children and her pram, he immediately offered a helping hand. My worshipful husband hadn't lost it!
ACTIVISTS show their love for God by confronting evil and battling injustices, working to make the world a better place. I am not sure I am a strong activist, but I do love my work. Being in the right job is important to me, as I seek to worship God by using my skills to best help others, and maybe play a little part in making my part of the world a little better.
INTELLECTUALS worship through studying. I hadn't thought much about this before, but it is so true. Does this mean that you need to study the right things for the right reasons? I will need to ponder on this one a little more.
True worship often takes effort as it costs us our self centredness - praising God when you don't feel like it, helping others when you are worn out and even learning to worship in NEW ways. I can tell you it can become a very joyful and illuminating experience.
Matt Redman, a well known worship leader and songwriter, wrote a song in 1987: `Heart of Worship'. His Pastor at the Soul Survivor Church in Watford, England had banned singing for a while so he could teach and encourage his congregation to worship in other ways. It was out of this time of learning and reflection that this song was born. *3
When the music fades and all his slipped away
And I simply come.
Longing just to be something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart.
I'll bring You more than a song, for a song in itself
Is not what You have required.
You search much deeper within, through the way things appear,
Your looking into my heart.\
I'm coming back to the heart of worship and its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it, when its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
King of endless worth, no one could express how much you deserve.
Though I'm weak and poor, all I have is Yours, every single breath!
Reflect on God's word and the words of this song and with me discover YOUR TRUE WORSHIP.
1. Rick Warren, "The Purpose Driven Life, (2002) Zondervan.
2. Gary Thomas, `Sacred Pathways' (2000) Zondervan
3. Matt Redman, `Heart of Worship' (1997) Kingsway Thankyou Music
Over the years I've learnt some important lessons about TRUE WORSHIP, most importantly that God desires ALL OF ME. Not just on Sunday when I go to Church or when I put on my worship music, but every hour of every day.
"Let us be grateful and worship God in a way that pleases Him." Hebrews 12:28
"True worshipers will worship in spirit and in truth, for these are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." John 4:23
Worship must be `genuine and heartfelt, authentically representing YOUR love for God. *1
A few years ago I learnt an important lesson about worship: MY WAY IS NOT THE ONLY WAY! God made us `different', so it stands to reason that we will worship Him differently. What God wants is `honest' worship from sincere hearts. *2
Just after our son's wedding Mark and I took 6 weeks off to travel with some special friends (we call them Mum and Dad) around some northern and western areas of Queensland. Now I am not a great one for scenery, but I discovered my mum could find God in any natural setting. As an `ascetic' worshiper I enjoy my solitude and simplicity. I soon discovered that these natural settings were a wonderful place to for this quiet and uncomplicated worship.
I also discovered that my dad was quite traditional in his worship - enjoying his rituals and liturgy. As an `enthusiast' I love to celebrate my love for the Lord. Sometimes I enjoy my worship with dance and clapping my hands. I love my hymns and and worship music and just get so excited about giving glory and honour to God. I guess that's why I smile when I sing. But again, I discovered that I can celebrate in any setting, even through ritual and liturgy.
"Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship". Romans 12:1
So far I have been concentrating on worship mainly from a `musical' sense, but according to Gary Thomas' `Sacred Pathways', there are many other aspects to worship. *2 Most of us are `sensates' and `contemplatives', loving beautiful worship services and adoration, but there are other places, outside of Church where worship is just as significant.
CAREGIVERS worship by loving others. They see needs and they meet them. This is their true spiritual worship. I sometimes worry when Mark is tired and grumpy that he has lost his worshipful spirit. But the other day, while travelling on the train, he showed me this wasn't true. When he saw a woman needing help with her children and her pram, he immediately offered a helping hand. My worshipful husband hadn't lost it!
ACTIVISTS show their love for God by confronting evil and battling injustices, working to make the world a better place. I am not sure I am a strong activist, but I do love my work. Being in the right job is important to me, as I seek to worship God by using my skills to best help others, and maybe play a little part in making my part of the world a little better.
INTELLECTUALS worship through studying. I hadn't thought much about this before, but it is so true. Does this mean that you need to study the right things for the right reasons? I will need to ponder on this one a little more.
True worship often takes effort as it costs us our self centredness - praising God when you don't feel like it, helping others when you are worn out and even learning to worship in NEW ways. I can tell you it can become a very joyful and illuminating experience.
When the music fades and all his slipped away
And I simply come.
Longing just to be something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart.
I'll bring You more than a song, for a song in itself
Is not what You have required.
You search much deeper within, through the way things appear,
Your looking into my heart.\
I'm coming back to the heart of worship and its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it, when its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
King of endless worth, no one could express how much you deserve.
Though I'm weak and poor, all I have is Yours, every single breath!
Reflect on God's word and the words of this song and with me discover YOUR TRUE WORSHIP.
1. Rick Warren, "The Purpose Driven Life, (2002) Zondervan.
2. Gary Thomas, `Sacred Pathways' (2000) Zondervan
3. Matt Redman, `Heart of Worship' (1997) Kingsway Thankyou Music
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