I stood in worship today, as the worship team played and I began to sing the songs, I had to stop. We were singing about God being worthy of our praise, we were singing about His majesty and power. But my heart ask the question, “is God being glorified by my worship of Him”?
My worship of God does not please Him if all week I have served other gods or my own desires. God is only pleased by a heart that worships Him and Him alone. So I stood there praying, asking God to search my heart, to see if there was any wickedness in me. I prayed that God would expose sin and rid my heart of any areas where I might be worshipping another god.
I wish I could fully understand, fully explain where my heart was this morning. It was grieved and filled with sorrow. I realized that there have been many times I have stood there worshipping God with a heart that was not pleasing, a heart that should have been praying for forgiveness not singing praises.
This morning I was faced with an all powerful God who is worthy of my praise. But even more than that He is worthy of a life completely dedicated, completely surrender to Him. It’s one thing to stand in the “house” of God and worship Him by our outward show of worship. Its another thing to live a life of worship.
I’ve been studying 1 John and have been challenged by what it means to know God. If we know God then He abides in us. If He abides in me I will walk in the same manner that Christ walked. (2:6) If I know God I will not love the world or seek after those these that the world deems important. (2:15-17) If I know God I will no longer practice a lifestyle of sinful choices, thoughts and attitudes. (3:4-10) I know God abides in me if I practice righteousness, keep His commandments, and love my brothers and sisters. (3:23-24)
My heart was grieved this morning as God allowed me to see how He is not pleased with my outward show of worship on a Sunday morning. He is only pleased by a life that is lived in daily worship, glory and honor of Him.
Coming face to face with the vastness and holiness of God should cause us to fall prostrate before God in repentance, in submission to His will and a willingness to live a life crucified before Him. This is worship. This is worship that is pleasing to God.
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandment; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith. (1John 5 3-4)
Sharon, I understand what you are saying. For something that seems so simple and freeing, worship gets awfully complicated.
ReplyDeletePart of that definitely is us and where we are in our hearts. How can you sing praises when you know there is something wrong in your heart? I fear that our churches don't always embrace fully that folks come to worship with their hearts in different places. We launch into the praise songs with the band, and we lose that prayerful, reflective time, when, indeed, we ask God to see if there is any wicked way in us, and to lead us in the way everlasting.
Thankfully, our God is a God of grace. Even in our heart's anguish, He hears our prayers and will show His mercy. That walk of daily obedience and devotion is increasingly challenging to do well as we learn more and more how weak we are before Him. But, He is our strength--and we can praise Him for being that, even through our heart's discontentment.
Visiting through Carmen's suggestion; so glad I came!
It can be easy to fall into that habit of putting on our worship face without really thinking about where our hearts are. This is a good reminder of how awesome, majestic, powerful our God is - all week long!
ReplyDeleteIt's so important to be genuine. Not just before men, but before God as well. We only fool ourselves when we are not.
ReplyDeleteWe're all a work in progress, but we need to keep our hearts tender and attentive to His voice and continue to seek Him with all our hearts.
Thanks for sharing.
This is so true and such a good message for the day! The Bible tells us we are to worship Him in spirit and in truth! Amen!
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