Worship and Its Many Forms in Our Life

1. Sitting quietly before God, as did Mary at the feet of Jesus. Sit, wait. Watch, pray. “You need not cry very loud; He is nearer to us than we are aware of.” (Bro. Lawrence) Access to the throne is ours, but to demand His moving is not.

2. Reverence Him in thoughts, words and deeds throughout your day. He is ever-present with you; an active listener of the heart and the lips. R. A. Torrey said, “Our whole life should be a life of prayer. We should walk in constant communion with God. There should be a constant upward looking of the soul to God. We should walk so habitually in His presence that even when we awake in the night it would be the most natural thing in the world for us to speak to Him in thanksgiving or in petition.” This life-style can be called practicing the presence of Christ: “That we should establish ourselves in a sense of God’s presence by continually conversing with Him. That it was a shameful thing to quit His conversation to think of trifles and fooleries.” (Lawrence)

3. My soul breathing with God; in tune; in agreement. “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” (Psalm 150:6) The words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart should be in harmony, singing one continuously sweet song of adoration. “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38) Peace in submission; for the One with whom you have to do holds all in His hand and knows the thoughts that He thinks towards you, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Worship of God is seen as you trust in God. We may not know the why, but we know the Who.

4. Exalting Him for Who He is. “He hath made the earth by His power, He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by His understanding.” (Jeremiah 50:15) As you ponder that verse, you are worshipping your Creator and Sustainer. Worship is ascribed to God as we bless Him in our hearts for His mighty and infinitely detailed creation in which He has placed us.

5. Pouring our all out for Him as we go about our day, that it may be said of us, “Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.” (1 Timothy 5:10) That we would pray our life would become the sweetest of incense rising to His throne in heaven as we, “…walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God of a sweet smelling savour.” (Ephesians 5:2) Every deed in the course of our day can be turned into an offering of love to Him.

6. As God holds His Word above His name, likewise, our act of studying His Word and taking it seriously is an act of adoration of what He holds so dear. “Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” (Psalm 119:127-128) One volume has been given us to learn; not a series, not a library, but one volume. A lack in this area is detrimental: “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” (Mark 22:29) When the God of heaven speaks to you through His Word or through His messenger, we ought to take note of this and act upon this truth.

7. A settled mind is conducive to worship. “I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.” (Psalm 16: 8-9) Fretting and worry reveal a mistrust of God.

8. We must worship Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24) Jesus said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profited nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63) Using Scripture in your time of worship, prayer and meditation is to worship in spirit and in truth. With much use, our sword is sharpened and our expertise in handling it is improved.

9. Acknowledge that all we are is by His grace alone. “Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent.” (Jesus) All that we are, all that we have comes from God. “…He waketh mine ear to hear as the learned.” (Isaiah 50:4) If we learn something, it is His gift. “When thou saidest, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek…thou hast been my help.” (Psalm 27:8-9) If we are feeling the desire to seek God, it is because He has first sought us.

True worship makes the soul soar. As we ascribe value to our God by sacrificing our time, attention, concentration, and praise to Him, we are in turn strengthened with the confidence and full assurance of His power and His working in our life. How things come into proper perspective when seen through Christ! Behold your God: is there anything too hard for Him? Is there anything beyond His power? Can you not trust Him with all that weighs on your heart? Cast that burden of care down before Him and take up the wonderful thoughts of Who He is and the reality of the great extent to which He has gone to prove His love, care, and concern for you. All is well, all is well, your God doth in the heavens still reigns! Praise Ye the Lord!