Helpful Truth To Know About the Meaning of Worship
What would you say if someone asked you about the meaning of worship?
Many think of worship as the time spent in church lifting praises and listening to the Word.
Wikipedia says…
Worship is showing regard with great respect, honor, or devotion. This may be encountered in religious settings.
John Piper said…
“All true worship is in essence a matter of the heart.”
Louis Giglio said…
“Worship is our response, both personal and corporate, to God for who He is, and what He has done; expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live.”
And William Temple said…
“Worship is the submission of all our nature to God.”
There’s a lot of wisdom in Piper’s, Giglio’s, and Temple’s words. But let’s stop and see what Scripture says…
Moses wrote…
Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul?
Deuteronomy 10:12 (CSB)
Jesus said…
“God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
John 4:24
And my personal favorite comes from The Message Paraphrase of Paul’s words…
Offering your entire life . . . your everyday, ordinary, sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life.
Romans 12:1–2 (MSG)
The truth is—the meaning of worship is as much or more about our attitudes than our actions!
We worship God because we love Him. It was true for the people of Israel as they spoke The Shema…
“Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:4–5 (CSB)
And true for us as repeated by Jesus…
“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”
Matthew 22:7–8
When you and I understand the meaning of worship is an attitude that pours out of a heart filled with love, it changes how we think about Sunday morning. And it also changes how we think about the rest of the week.
It’s not about the music, the preacher, or the friendliness of the people … that’s church. But worship, that’s what you and I bring to church and carry with us throughout the week. It’s a heart of love surrendered to our Lord in faith.
Paul said it like this…
I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.
Romans 12:1
Let’s pray…
A Prayer to Know and Live
the Meaning of Worship
Father, Your Word tells me that You are love … everything You do and want for us comes from Your overwhelming incomprehensible love. And You demonstrated the greatness of Your love when You sent Jesus to save us and through Your Spirit and the countless ways You care for us daily You continue to show that love.
Please forgive me for failing to worship You as I should. It’s so easy to limit my worship to an hour on Sunday morning and then to live selfishly and distracted the rest of the week. I am so very sorry.
Help me, Lord. I love You! I want to worship You as You deserve. I want to use every gift, every talent and ability, every possession and pleasure, every thought and word to show You how very much I love You. I want to respond to You with selfless love.
Please help me to rise each morning with a humble heart completely surrendered to Your love. Help me watch for opportunities to love the people around me as You desire. Help me care for the blessings You give with a thankful heart. Help me worship You in spirit and truth.
I need You. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I might honor and love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength every day now and forever. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
John Owen wrote…
“We are never nearer Christ than when we find ourselves lost in a holy amazement at His unspeakable love.”
True worship shows itself in two ways…
- The attitude of our hearts and minds.
- The priority we place on honoring God with what we do.
One of the best ways to live a life of worship is to faithfully ask … #WWGGG = What Would Give God Glory?
May the Lord bless you as you focus on Him with a heart of worship.
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Hooray! I got through!
We all need to live every moment being aware of God’s presence and honoring Him in our thoughts, words and deeds. One hour at church is never enough. May we surrender daily to His ways.
Blessings, Deb!
Yay! I’m so glad, Martha! Surrendering our lives to the glory and honor of His name. That’s living with a heart of worship. I love it! God bless you, sweet friend!
It is so true in order to worship God we must try to live our lives like him. By love, grace, patience, humble, mercy towards others. It is not easy but by praying daily and asking God to open our hearts and mind he will help us along the way.
Thank you Deb love your words of encouragement it helps me to remain focus in glorify our Lord daily.
Amen, Ana. By His grace and with His help we can live a life of worship and love. Blessings to you, friend!
True worship shows itself in two ways, in the attitude of our hearts and minds and the priority we place on honoring God with what we do and say! Love this Deb, such an encouraging read this morning. Thank you … 🙏🩷
I love the beautiful succinct way you said it Donna. An attitude of honoring the Lord in everything … that is worship! Thanks much! Blessings!
Deb, I do agree with you that worship does not mean just going to church, the music, the preacher or the people. I have known people who didn’t go to church but had such a sincere worship of the Lord. One was my late brother. He loved his afternoon cocktail and sitting on his deck, praising the Lord as he watched the birds and critters, the beautiful sky, flowers and nature. He truly loved the Lord. He would always tell me that when he went to Heaven, Jesus and Mama would be there at the gate handing him a glass of wine and they would all have dinner together. As I looked at his not even cold yet body when he went to be with the Lord, I could imagine that is what he was doing. I miss him. I know that he is in his happy place now.
Your brother sounds like a wonderful man who loved the Lord very much. When I see accounts like this it always reminds me of a friend who used to say, “Isn’t heaven going to be great? No more goodbyes!” Oh what a day that will be. Blessings and hugs, my friend!