Genuine Worship
Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Psalm 150:1-6
Joy and worship are two essential tenets of the Christian faith. If we have genuine faith, we find joy in Christ and our heart compels us to worship him. One who sees a beautiful building praises those who built or designed it, but if their praise is not genuine, what is their praise worth? Does anyone want a compliment that is not genuine? An artist does not paint a masterpiece for false praise. In the same way, God desires not the worship of a heart that praises him out of simple tradition or routine, but one that cannot help but glorify him because of his mercy, grace, and glory. The same goes for tithing. John Piper says it clearly: “God is not glorified by begrudging submission. He is glorified by joyful obedience. God loves a cheerful giver because that kind of giving reflects the worth of God as a treasure.”
So how do we as believers cultivate a heart posture that worships God? Paul tells us to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). A relationship cannot grow without communication, thus constant prayer draws us closer to God. Similarly, starting the morning with prayer and reading of Scripture begins the day in a place of worship, giving a starting point for a worshipful day.
God told Joshua to “meditate on [the scriptures] day and night” (Joshua 1:7). He also instructed the Israelites to “talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” (Deuteronomy 6:7). If we are constantly meditating on the Word of God and thinking about it throughout the day, we will find ourselves thinking less of worldly things and more of Heavenly things. The way I find easiest to meditate on the Word is to memorize it. That way, when I need to recall a verse or phrase from the Bible, I have not only the phrase but the context memorized. Besides, how can we meditate on something if we don’t know what it says?
If our desire is to fulfill the Will of God (as it should be), then we have to worship him and find joy in him. By keeping in constant prayer and pondering his Words, our heart will become less inclined to the way of evil and strive towards goodness and truth. When our thoughts are filled with the Word of God, our heart begins to recognize the majesty and glory of Christ and cannot help but praise him. Then we can go and share our joy with the whole world. All it takes is starting your day determined to praise God and obey his commands. Be disciplined and stay on the narrow path that leads to life.
