“Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’[a]
who was, and is, and is to come.’” Rev 4:8
Worship. An exclamation, a proclamation of worth. Proclaimed through actions, words, thoughts, and consistent
adoration. Giving up something of yourself to show
how great another is.
Worship, in many modern church's, seems to work on a formula. It goes something like: catchy, slightly repetitive song + dim lights = worship.This is not necessarily a bad thing, but we (the ones desiring to be a true worshiper) have a responsibility beyond halfheartedly bobbing our heads to the music. What many “worshipers” (or those distant participants in the
formula) don’t seem to realize is, that true worship can’t be CREATED by a formula, or by anyone else, it can only be created by
us; our own hearts. WE, as worshipers, as forgiven people, create in
ourselves an altar and our own lives as the sacrifice on it. Noah built an altar, Moses built an altar, Isaac built an altar, and they did not expect someone else to build it for them, in the same way we build our own "altars" of worship.
Don’t get me wrong, I
love worship music, I often leave it on during the day to help me focus and meditate on God. But worship itself flows out of the deepest parts of ourselves. Sometimes
our grateful hearts find it easy; it just comes, and other times it’s a struggle.
In those times that we don’t “feel” it, we need to realize that He still
DESERVES it. Sometimes I just stand during worship segments in physical or
mental pain and speak “Jesus” over and over. Sometimes I stop and ask Him for more passion,
for more desire. If I only know how to love, because He first loved me, it
follows that He also helps birth in me more passion.
This week examine yourself in worship. Make up your own
lyrics. Meditate on the words, and what they truly mean to you. Make a fool of
yourself for Christ by dancing if you feel worship rushing through you. Worship
when there is music and when its silent. Worship; proclaim out loud or in
your heart (or through your actions, your boast in Him) how much He means, how
great He is, every time He comes to mind. I am going to, or try to. I know my
worship is still an offering of filthy rag’s compared to what He deserves, but
He sees it as beautiful because we are in Christ. Be willing to make the
sacrifice, and don’t expect it to always be easy. We're all beginners it seems, but He welcomes us to his holy place, ready for us to spend time with Him, how can we resist?
Thoughts on helpful worship progressions: Ask for forgiveness (so you
do not try and enter the throne room dirty) -> ; meditate on the joy of
forgiveness and the greatness of the sacrifice -> ; use the words to songs to
help voice the thankfulness and elevation of God -> ; when those words are no
longer sufficient, create your own words to lift as praise.
