We
have been learning about the many ways to worship God over the past
few weeks and as I reflect back on each sermon I am flooded with
questions about how I worship God. I come to church on Sundays and
at times only half heartedly participate in the service. Sometimes
I'm tired or distracted and sometimes my underlying self-consciousness
of what others may think if I raise my hands, pray out loud or praise
God, holds me back. I stifle the urge to truly worship Him publicly
and know in my heart there was a blessing I just missed. As I reflect
on my actions, I wonder why. Am I not here to worship God?
Sometimes
it's difficult to just let go and let God move. We get so wrapped
up in our world and forget why we are here. I know the purpose to
worship is to SHOW God we love Him and that we are thankful Jesus
died so we may live eternally. Yet, if we are only going through
the motions, is our worship real to God? If we stand but don't sing
with all our hearts, and repeat praises without truly understanding
with our minds their meaning, is it acceptable to Him? If we half
heartedly worship God are we honoring Him?
Matthew 22:7 says: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and all your soul and all your mind." God doesn't
want part of you in worship, He wants ALL of you!
If
you were in church several weeks ago when many of us participated
in the worship service by raising and clapping our hands as we sang
to the Lord, you know He was pleased with our worship. You could
feel the difference as His spirit moved through His church. Aside
from the tears, it was evident when 6 people went to God at the
alter! As we gathered in prayer, hearts were renewed and Gods healing
hand was upon us. When I look back I wonder why God moved that Sunday
and not every other Sunday?
The
difference was the genuine heartfelt worship. We acknowledged God
that day in a way that was pleasing to Him. Just as David told Solomon
in 1 Chronicles 28:9 And you my son Solomon,
acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted
devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart
and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him
he will be found by you; but if you forsake Him he will reject you
forever. That day, with wholehearted devotion and an
open mind we worshiped God in new ways and He blessed us with his
presence. God looks into our hearts each day as we worship and knows
when our worship is real and when its not. When we truly come to
worship, we will find Him there.
Each
one of us was created to worship God in our own unique way. No matter
how, when or where you worship, do so with all your heart or it's
meaningless to Him. As we have learned about the many ways a person
can worship God through his word, it's comforting to know that in
whatever way we feel led, its acceptable if we do so with All our
heart, soul, mind and strength. Both publicly and privately we can
worship God through the reading of his word, Praising Him for specific
blessings, Kneeling in prayer, Singing, Dancing, Clapping our hands,
Helping someone in need, Sacrificing our time, Fellowship with believers
and unbelievers and just about anything else we do in our day. You
know in your heart if you're giving your All and so does He.
As
we continue to learn new ways to worship God in our daily walk,
He will show us the way each of us is designed to worship Him. That
also means we may have to step out of our comfort zone from time
to time to keep it real. Remember, everything you do is a form of
worship in the site of God. Every word, every action, every praise,
He knows our hearts and asks to be acknowledged everyday, in and
through our lives. God wants all of you, not what's left over at
the end of your day. He is always there; and worshiping Him is not
just something we do in church on Sunday. So as you go through each
day, ask yourself; "Am I here to worship?" and do everything
with all your heart so it will be acceptable and pleasing to Him.
If
you don't, what do you have to lose?
Sherri Hunter