How Do You Worship?

We show up. Our hands are folded in prayer. We open the Book. We read the lyrics on the screen. But are we truly worshiping? It begs the question . . . what does it mean to truly worship?

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1).

Worship . . . isn’t music. But music can be worship.

One of my favorite “worship” songs is “Gratitude” by Brandon Lake. From the lyrics to the way Lake sings them, voice thick with emotion and reverence, the song always evokes a deep thrumming in my heart, a call to worship God with all I have to offer: my hallelujah.

Because what else does one offer to the King, the God of all the universe who needs nothing from us?

Needs, however, aren’t to be confused with wants.

The all-seeing, all-knowing, all-having God has His eyes on our hearts in totality.

Worship isn’t simply reading the words printed in the Bible. Romans 12:2 goes on to say “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

How does one renew their mind? Not by reading their Bible, but by reading their Bible, shovel in hand, dirt up to their elbows. Where the mind goes, the will will follow.

God’s Word is our daily bread (Matthew 4:4), not our once-a-week (or less) treat. It is alive and active, transformative by its very nature as it cuts through the lies we’ve told ourselves, the lies we’ve let the world build us up on (Hebrews 4:12). We are to meditate on it day and night (Joshua 1:8). It is the Book of the Law, but also both a tool to sharpen our lives and a gift we’d be foolish not to receive, a gift bringing peace, comfort, and reassurance in our God, who was and is and is to come.

Praying . . . this is a tough one. If I’m being vulnerable, 100% honest, I’ve found myself guilty of prayer recitation in the past. Literally. “Dear God. Thank You for this. Please do this. I love You for that. Amen.” As long as I recited the words before a meal, before bed, I was good, right?

“These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain.” (Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 15:8-9, Mark 7:6-7).

Prayer is not a string of words to be recited. It’s a conversation. It’s meant to cultivate a deeper relationship with God as we bring Him our praise and gratitude for what He’s done, our needs we know He can meet, and an understanding of His sovereignty. We don’t pray to appease God. We certainly don’t pray to change Him. We pray so that He can change us. Renew our minds and transform us.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 doesn’t provide a script when it tells us to pray without ceasing (See also Romans 12:12). The Lord’s Prayer is a scriptural guideline, yes, but Philippians 4:16 instructs us to pray about everything.

Psalms 145:18 brings a delightful reward for this life of constant prayer. “The Lord is near to all who call on Him in truth.”

And James 5:16 tells us the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Attending church is a wonderful thing, make no mistake, but simply showing up is not a true act of worship.

“My people come to You, as they usually do, and sit before You to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice.” (Ezekiel 33:31).

Hebrews 10:25 does insist we not give up meeting together, but it follows with a comma, not a period. When we meet, we are to encourage each other. To build up each other. To edify each other. And to be encouraged, built up, and edified.

This is because every believer is a necessary, working part of the living, moving Body of Christ. Now my athletic people, tell me what happens when you neglect too many workouts? When you neglect all of them?

“If you don’t move it, you lose it!”

Don’t be the missing muscle, the “lost limb” from the Body of Christ, for we both know how that ends.

Hebrews 3:13 tells us exactly how to avoid this unfortunate muscular atrophy, this tragic spiritual amputation. “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

True worship is all inclusive, all-in, all the time.

We are to draw near to God with a sincere heart (Hebrews 10:22).

We are to worship in Spirit and truth (John 4:24).

In essence, true worship is about intention and recognition.

It is defined by the priority we place on God, on who He is in our lives.

“Not because of who I am, but because of what You’ve done.

Not because of what I’ve done, but because of who You are.”

(“Who Am I” Casting Crowns)

It’s a willingness to transform from whatever we are into whatever God wants us to be.

It’s a driving belief that God is alive and that He reigns upon His throne.

It’s a willingness to let Him reign in our lives, too. Even more than that, it’s a desire for Him to.

“Not my will, Lord, but Yours.”

It’s surrender.

In a world of “Self-Made Men (and Women),” I urge you to reject that notion.  Stop chasing the title. Instead, through true worship, be God-Made.