Worship?

When I was a worship leader, I got "ratings" every week from many well-meaning people about "worship." Their observations were all over the map: "too loud," "too soft," "not fast enough," "too fast," "unfamiliar," "routine," and so on and on and on the list went. I felt like an Olympic contestant watching for the ratings from the judges after a performance! Often I got the response, "Wasn't worship great today?" Or "I didn't get anything out of worship today." All of these comments by Jesus' people seem to indicate their understanding of "worship" as something you go to and watch. They seem to believe that worship is something that is done to you, something done for our pleasure.

Biblical worship is nothing like that. In fact, worship is not a noun, but a verb in Scripture. If anything, we "perform" while God watches: it is for His pleasure. Today I read through several Scriptures that described worship actions: 'bless'" "rejoice," "know," "seek," "love," "sing," "glorify," and "trust," to name just a few. Music is only one of many acts of the worshipping assembly.

In the prophets we learn that God is not pleased with our songs when our hearts are not right. He wants all of us, "heart, soul, mind and strength." Becoming more of the person God wants you to be is the best way to worship your Creator.

Worship is a 24/7 activity. The quality of your "experience" during a Sunday worship time is directly related to how you worship the rest of the week.

Take time each day to keep your eyes open and worship God as you experience him through your daily routine. Then you'll be prepared on Sunday to come to worship, not watch.