How much time do you dedicate to worship?

The Hebrew word “worship” translated means to bow down. Bowing down before the Lord is an act of reverence and submission. True worship demonstrates a posture of our hearts and attitudes. We worship him in spirit and truth. It is our response of gratitude to the work of God in our lives. We often correlate worship with singing hymns or songs of praise. However, there are so many ways we can express worship. Throughout the Bible, various forms of worship are seen in the lives of those who sought the Lord in praise. David danced and lept before the Ark; Miriam led the women of Israel in a dance of thanksgiving before the Lord; Daniel prayed three times a day on his knees; while her sister concerned herself with the fine points of hospitality, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, and the Apostle Paul sang songs of praise in prison.

God created us for worship. Sitting quietly enveloped in his presence and offering him our worship is a privilege and an honor. Unfortunately, we often allow distractions to rob us of our time with the Lord. As we approach the New Year, we tend to make resolutions involving our physical appearance and financial or social status, but how often do we focus on our spiritual growth?

We belong to the Father, a holy God, who invites us to spend time with him. This year, may we resolve to prioritize spending more time in worship. When we put God first, we will have everything we need. (Matthew 6:33) We will discover more peace and joy throughout our day. The Apostle Paul encouraged us in Romans 12:1 to use our bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. It doesn’t matter if we dance, play an instrument, kneel with our arms raised, or lay with our faces to the ground. Our physical stance does not matter if we worship him from the depths of our hearts. Worship that pleases God flows naturally from complete reverence and surrender to him.

What does your act of worship look like?

Father God, you are so worthy of my worship and praise. I come to you with a heart filled with thanksgiving for who you are and all you have done for me. Lord, I ask that you please remove any distractions that take away my time in your presence. Please help all who tend to be easily distracted find time to sit peacefully in your presence. May they also know the delight of true worship. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture References: Philippians 2:10; Psalm 100:3; Ephesians 3:14; 1 Corinthians 6:20; John 4:23-24: