Anyone who knows me knows that worship is a huge part of my life, in fact it is my life. My goal is to continue pursuing a deeper encounter with Jesus and to inspire others to do the same. However, one can’t if there’s no understanding of what worship is. Therefore, I’ve dedicated this blog to bring some clarity on the topic and hopefully ignite a desire to seek God more.
Although there are many ways to explain what worship is, I’ll start by explaining what it is not. Worship is not playing instruments, singing, dancing, serving people, nor any other act alone. Even as a singer, I’m mindful that worship is more than music. These outward expressions are in response to an inward experience, which is where worship happens. Worship is the connection between God and His beloved. It’s when His Spirit links with yours for a divine exchange. You pour out intimate adoration from inside, then He pours in His very presence, which gives you more to pour, and the cycle continues.
Worship, therefore, is a state of living or being versus mere emotional stimulation. It is spiritual oneness with God. It’s the constant need to be near Him and for Him to dwell within you. This involves another aspect, which is sacrifice. We must consistently crucify our inner carnality that is part of our human nature due to the fall of man in Genesis with Adam and Eve. In the Old Testament, animal sacrificing was an expression of worship. However, through the story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-18), we learn that in worship, sacrifice means nothing if your heart is not attached to it or it costs you nothing.
“When the music fades, all is stripped away and I simply come, longing just to bring 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. You're looking into my heart.” – Michael W. Smith
To worship by God’s standards, we must know God, which means to love, serve, and actually “like” Him. As with people you like, it’s a pleasure to “hang out” with God and intentionally stay in touch with Him. When you want to connect with anyone, you put forth the effort. Because “it takes two”, God made unrelenting strides to connect with us by wrapping Himself in the body of Jesus, coming into our world, and overcoming anything that could separate us from Him! He took the first step to meet us where we were. Worship begins with taking the following step toward a daily relationship with God through accepting Jesus Christ as The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Worship is maintaining a heart that God can live in, which means keeping it clean and available for Him to enter and reside.
I hope this has shed some light on what worship is for anyone who was either unsure or misinformed, though it cannot all be captured in a blog. Often, people mix up worship other things, forgetting that it’s a lifestyle for believers. If you’re not yet a believer, I challenge and encourage you to take a step toward God by accepting Christ and how He died at Calvary. I bet you will enjoy knowing Him with every step closer! Because of His love, He sacrificed for us. What better gift to offer God but your heart, your most valuable asset? Life doesn’t have to stop for you to worship, but this offering can occur any time because it is a continual conversation with God. Sometimes, you will pause everything to reach Him, but know that He’s always present and interested in hearing from you. He loves you and wants your heart to be His home, so welcome Him with worship!