I went to more than one-hundred Sunday church services last year. First, I worked at a church that held three services. Later, looking for a new church, I tried two locations every Sunday. After I picked one, I still went to every service to re-plant my roots.
Last March, we paused our services for thirteen weeks to slow the spread of COVID-19. For thirteen Sundays, I watched church on YouTube alone, whispered the first line or two of a hymn, and mumbled through the shared liturgy. But I realized during this season that I needed to re-learn what worship really is. It is not just for Sunday morning, and it is not just that part of the church service where the worship team is playing music.
Jesus taught the Samaritan woman that, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). The Holy Spirit is sometimes likened to air, or pneuma. Job said, “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life” (Job 33:4). Jesus breathed on His disciples to share the Holy Spirit (John 20:22). Elsewhere, Jesus reminds us how God’s truth feeds us: “Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). So we have it backwards if we think God needs or craves our worship. We are the ones who need to worship, the same way we need air and food.
God creates and sustains and saves us. Before Him we can boast of nothing. But we get to worship. It is our response to His work and His nature, and it isn’t limited to a service once a week. It is a discipline we carry into all of life, like Moses bowing at Yahweh’s name in gratitude of His compassion, grace, and love (Exodus 34:6–9), or the disciples responding in awe of Jesus’s power over creation (Matthew 14:24–33). When we worship, we are adding our praise to that of the lame man who rejoiced in Christ’s power to heal (Acts 3:1–10). We anticipate when we will join with all creation in singing, “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13).
When Augustine said, “The Christian should be an alleluia from head to foot,” maybe he meant that to have a head and a foot, and the life that comes with them, is the grace of God. And to offer that whole body and life is the discipline of worship (Romans 12:1). The Holy Spirit acts in worship, nourishing us and guiding us to praise, thank, confess, obey, pray, and give. Living out the practice of worship, we learn how to be, how to know, and how to be still and know (Psalm 46:10, NIV).
Written by David Chaniott
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80 thoughts on "Worship"
Worship has gotten me through the toughest medical times (still ongoing) yet all along I had no idea it was FOR us, I just always wanted to make sure God had worship and not grumbling from me. Totally different perspective now, I love it!
An alleluia from head to foot, love it
Romans 12:1. What a great reminder of the way to worship.
Allow our worship to be a constant daily activity. Not just something we do at church.
“Be still, and know that I am God; …” when I am still + truly focussing on Him, I am led to worship + praise Him. I need to practice being still to know Him + worship Him more.
My seven year old reminded me of this when she thanked God for Covid…. I was amazed at her utter love for God that instead of blaming him for the difficult times she instead thanked for for what he is doing in this time. She often wakes me with worship songs on and we dance and sing! I thank God for his reminder to have faith like a child.
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Repetitive and lonely. I so feel you! There is purpose in the mundane, praying you are reminded of that during these times! Motherhood is hard, hang in there ❤️
Staying home with my baby Can get repetitive and lonely but I’m glad for this reminder of worship.
Alleluia from head to foot…. wow, what a powerful way to view my life.
I choose to see the individual moments in my life that are gifts from God – whether large or small – and respond in worship. Thanking Him for who He is, for My God is so good!
I never felt the same watching church at home. It was much harder to concentrate and really focus on the message.
I’m excited to worship him and figure out what that looks like in every moment. I Struggle with singing and especially singing alone so I’m glad I can explore worshiping him in other ways. I miss church services, I do.
Amen.. Father I call You for help..
2020 and even 2021 so far…fear of everything COVID-19. I live in a state that did not shut down in general. The church I attend did shut down in person service for about 3 months and offered online and Facebook services. I participated in those services but I felt like I could not fully participate due to so many distractions in my home. As soon as the in person services began again I was there and still am there. It’s different though. Only about 1/4 of the congregation seem to be attending for the two morning services. I attribute this to a few things. Some don’t want to wear a mask, some got used to not coming and like the online service, and some are afraid no matter how many precautions the church takes. The devotion quotes the scripture when Jesus says Take heart it is I and do not be afraid❤️
I don’t have a church to attend they closed I think often that I miss going
So excited to be attending a church service today. I have not been into a church for worship since March of 2020. Living in fear is not how God designed me and I need to be surrounded by other like minded people glorifying Him. Rejoicing and knowing Our Lord in control of this mess we have going on. Thank you for lessons in celebration and worship. Today is a day to celebrate and worship. Remembering we are His people. He loves us each and every moment. Hallelujah!
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We had not been to church since the shutdowns, as our church decided to be all on line.
We are searching for an in person place of worship. We do not live in fear as that robs you of the life you have been gifted with.
Worship isn’t just for Sunday morning or at church. Worship can be in our every day lives…taking care of children, performing your job well. Do everything as though working for the Lord and worship him through taking care of the life He gave each of us.
God doesn’t need us to worship, we are the ones who need to worship Him. Through worshipping Him I am more able to be still and know Him. What a blessing it is to worship Him!
People here are not taking Covid seriously so I am attending church on line. I love that I can worship online with my daughter in California and I am in North Dakota. My daughter is a worship leader at her church.
This was so refreshing to me, as Ive felt a lot of guilt for not being at church on Sunday mornings. Our family has chosen not to attend, as we don’t agree with the childcare practices currently in place due to COVID. Ive felt like such a bad mom for not helping lead the family to church. However, when I stop and realize how many ways I’ve actually worshiped these past 10 months, it’s a blessing. Ive grown tremendously spiritually during this time. It’s time to lay down Satan’s guilt and worship my Savior!
Lord we thank you
I haven’t attended church in person since March of 2020. My church does not follow safe practices right now so I don’t see myself returning anytime soon or maybe even at all. I’ve had to have my own worship in my own way. The enemy wants us to believe we can only worship if we’re singing in church. Worship in my life looks like a twice a month zoom Bible study, listening to worship music, praying and how I show up for my family.
I love worshipping God! When I am truly worshipping him, there is no anxiety only peace because I know that He is in control and not me.
Thank you so much Tina and Churchmouse for your daily ministering to us through sharing your thoughts and stories. I look forward to reading your comments daily to find wisdom, encouragement, and strength. God bless you and thank you so very much! hugs and appreciation from Canada.
My take away verse today is when we offer ourselves as “living sacrifice” (sacrifice means it has to HURT, it has to DIE, not still alive and sitting pretty), then we are offering an acceptable service, which is in the administration of worship to the Lord. That includes an intentional and committed godly lifestyle, holy conversations, meditation of thoughts and heart intentions, this is worshiping God. Our prayers come up to God as an aroma.
I love how the Bible shows the same worship posture for Moses (on earth), bowing face down to the ground, and the 24 elders (in heavens), also to the ground, humbling themselves as low as they could. They do not get comfortable when they worship God. It is a posture of “I must decrease, so He might increase”. Hallelujah. Glory to our God who is worthy of all praise and worship.
Such a beautiful reminder that worship is not just an act on Sunday morning, but a lifestyle all week long! ❤️❤️
Love this❤️we get to worship the goodness of God! It isn’t just a Sunday thing- worship is a lifestyle!
So is worship also singing along with the songs on the Christian radio you listen to? Is it reading and studying your Bible in a mindful and meaningful way? Is worship those times you go to the Lord, whether in celebration or in prayer and commune with Him? I believe it is. I think anytime you are getting together with God and Christ and the Holy Spirit you are worshipping. I fully agree worship isn’t just for Sundays. So SRT sisters let’s worship the Lord our God now and every chance we get. Let’s show His love throughout His world.
Praise be to God ❤️
Praise God that one day we will all be able to worship Him together with all peoples and nations, at his glorious throne!
I want to thank each of you who comment every day. I am so grateful to be able to dig deeper into the daily devotionals because of your perspectives, praises, and prayers. Celebrating SRT as an opportunity to worship with you.
Oh yes yes yes. Abiding in him.
Worshiping my Father in heaven through the mercy of Jesus and strength of Holy spirit is bowing the ♡ ,soul, and mind.
A beautiful reminder on worship! I especially love the passage found in Luke 3:1-10…this man who was lame from birth, came to the temple seeking alms – and (literally) walked away with so much more! He didn’t just stand up and walk, he stood leaping and praising God – not only was he healed physically, he was healed spiritually! God of the exceedingly, God of the abundantly – doing above what we ask or think. This kind act of God, caused this lame man to see and understand the power of the Almighty – and he wanted everyone to know it! He burst into praise and worship. As believers, we might not necessarily see this kind miracle in our life, neither do we need it to begin our praise to God. Just the act of waking up, seeing a sunrise or a sunset, witnessing the beauty of fall – everything we see and experience should cause the worship of God to rise up within our souls! We praise You, Almighty God – blessing and power, glory and power be unto You, the Ancient of Days!
In a study of Revelation a few years ago reading the angles repeat this over and over and over in heaven gave me the shivers and now every time I hear it or repeat it it puts me directly before the throne a d glory of God. Try it. Repeat “ Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come”. This is my most powerful worship.
I truly appreciated the devotion in which she mentioned having to watch services on YouTube and stopping her normal way of worshiping through song. It’s a great reminder that we should be worshiping nit throughout the day and continually. I needed to hear this.
13I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say,
Blessing and honor and glory and power
be to the one seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever! 12They said with a loud voice,
Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing!
Yes and amen to this! During the peak of the pandemic, I similarly realized this. Worshiping is such a gift and so uplifting. On bad days at work, I often worship loudly on the way home–because, I know I need to be filled up with God’s spirit to rid the negativity from me. That’s a blessing not only for me, but also for my loved ones. That way, I can bring my frustrations and hardships to HIM and not to my family. <3
Sunday is my favorite day of the week, always has been since I was a little girl. I love coming together as a body of believers worshiping our Lord in prayer, in communion, in song, in the Word, in connection to each other. I have gone to worship when everything was great in my life and gone to worship when each of my parents passed away and when my brother died. I went to worship before Covid19 and during this pandemic and will go after. Worshiping as a local body is a need in my soul for fuel all week long worship. We worship God because of Who He Is and His goodness, we worship as a body because He desires to hear and we can’t stop our souls from crying out about Him. Worship keeps me abiding in Him.
When you read about worship, and reflect on the moments you felt in His presence the most, it’s so clear that worship is innately part and in us.
I feel some of the most peaceful, joyous moments when I am truly, heart and soul, worshipping God. It’s really like the cells in our body that ring out in chorus when we rejoice in the Lord.
“True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (John 4:23)
I love worship! It’s the one discipline that I don’t have to work at. It usually just pours out of me, whether at church, in my kitchen, in the car… it’s the one place I can always feel the Holy Spirit moving. I went the the beach with my family on Saturday and a man was standing on the cliff above us, hands raised and singing praise music SO loudly. A lot of people thought he was crazy (and he might’ve been) but I get it! Sometimes my heart is so full of worship (especially in the midst of His creation) that it just bursts out of me! I love Jesus.
What a great reminder that my worship to the Lord continues outside of Sunday mornings and outside of singing praises. May my entire life be an act of worship to my God, my Savior, my All in All! Amen <3
Amen ♥️
God is almighty and He loves to see His children worship Him is all things not just Sunday morning. I love to sing to Him, dance, and also study who He is. These are all acts of worship to Him. Thank you Father for making me to worship you. I have such peace when I do for I feel you near. ❤️
Thanks for this, Lydia.
@BestIsYetToCome, I love the idea of a praise & promise wall! It’s so easy to start focusing on our problems & worries instead of His promises. What a beautiful way to worship & redirect our focus to Him.
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Amen
I pray Lord you help me live from a position of worship. Teach my how to worship you when there is no band playing or when I’m on my own. Break down the walls that have been put up!
Yes! I needed that reminder today. ♥️
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@Erin King Amen!!! So good to see you on here!! Many blessings on you and your day today!!
THIS!!!!
Such a great reminder and encouragement to worship Him in all things and all ways regardless of location.
Usually, when I get in the car, I connect my phone, put on Spotify, and listen to whatever playlist I’m feeling that day. However, between turning my car on and connecting my phone, the radio plays. I had never found a station to listen to and instead fought through the sound of static every morning to get my phone connected.
Last week, I stumbled upon a station playing contemporary Christian music. For years, I turned up my nose at this kind of music. Having grown up on it, I reached the point where it just seemed “cheesy” to me.
Let me tell you, I stopped trying to connect my phone almost every day last week, as whatever song was playing on that station was so fitting for the moment, so focused on The Father, that I just left it. Worship takes so many forms, and sometimes all it takes is cracking open the door for the Holy Spirit to move. In this case, it was changing a radio station to avoid static. I will be looking for these opportunities more often! Thank you, God, for the little things.
Amen!
I worship you almighty god
@Jo Turnbull Thank you for addressing this!!
“So we have it backwards if we think God needs or craves our worship. We are the ones who need to worship, the same way we need air and food.”
When I read this, my first reaction was “what the heck?!” …So I stopped and asked God about it. He reminded me of the Garden of Eden and the creation of man. God craved an intimate fellowship, fellowship that was given by choice. He gave man choice! And there’s nothing more intimate and powerful than choosing to Stop. Pause. Reflect. Taking the time to do these things is WORSHIPPING Him!!!
And something that I’ve learned over the years is that worship doesn’t necessarily mean music & singing. It means selah-ing (taking time to stop, pause & reflect on the all-encompassing amazingness of God) it means CHOOSING to put God first, CHOOSING Him above everything else!!! THAT right there is worship!!! …don’t get me wrong, worship that includes music & words is important and necessary, but there is something about silence and letting God in, in a way that can’t be described… communion (not the bread & wine kind, though that is also an awesome way to worship) an intimate communion with Holy Spirit. Stop. Pause. Reflect. Selah. That’s it! That’s worship right there!!
May we never restrict or confine our worship to the things we think it should be.. Let us let God lead and show us!! To Him be all the Glory and Honor!!!
I love to worship! I love to worship when I feel like it – the tough part is when I don’t feel like it. So I decided this year I’m making a praise and promise wall in my home. When I start getting discouraged and don’t feel like praising, I stand in front of this wall and repeat the scriptures that I’ve posted there reminding God and myself (my soul) of His promises and praising Him especially when I don’t feel like it! It does wonders. Thank you Lord for the act of worship!
The Bible says to pray for our country and it’s leaders. Please pray a lot these next few days. For that on which our country was founded. In God we trust.
Worshiping myself, my ideas, desires, dreams are pathways to destruction. Been there, done that. Only God deserves to be worshipped. Worshipping Him should be my lifestyle.
It has been nearly eleven months since we have attended a worship service in person in a church. Covid forced our worship out of the church buiding but it didn’t stop us from worshipping. In fact it deepened it. Creating a worship atmosphere in our home each Sunday is a challenge and a blessing. We have to plan ahead, be thoughtful about worship. It’s been so so good that it spills over to the other six days of the week. More often than not worship music fills out home. The isolation lessens as praise rises. We notice everyday blessings so much more. Praising in a pandemic? Yes. Oh yes.
Worship had multiple descriptions, its not just singing, or shouting, or dancing, but also the way we walk out our daily lives! Acts of obedience are just as much a form of worship, as are words of encouragement to a hurting or lost soul. I have always been a worshipper, I love to sing and praise GOD with my voice, but I am learning along my walk that there is so much more to it… this morning I asked GOD to show me more! Have a great day sisters!
Ugh… A good but a hard reminder for me. I MISS corporate worship, in the same building, so very much. I’m a worshipper and that’s when I’m at my closest with the Lord – it’s how I hear Him best. Getting into scripture has taught me, worship has caught me. Thank you for today’s reminder about worship being more than “where the worship team is playing music.” However, I will still look to both days, when we can worship freely in corporate worship AND one day when we join all of creation. :)
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I have heard it said that every person is a worshiper. We choose what or who we will worship. (Even the worship comes from Him.) May I worship only You, LORD God.
I love St. Augustine’s quote, “The Christian should be an alleluia from head to foot.” I love it because our God is The Alleluia, and He lives in us. We have every reason to worship and praise.
Are things running perfectly here on earth? Umm, no…but this is not our Home. Are we cared for? Is God in control? Is He almighty and over all? Can we trust Him? Does He deserve our worship and praise? YES!
I am a worshiper, and I chose to worship Jesus! May His name be praised here in this temporary home and forever for all of eternity. Alleluia, Amen!
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TINA – so glad your original post found its way back to SRT. Looking for ways to worship today.
KARRIE – praying for you, your husband and healing in your marriage.
TRACI – praying for you and for Tanner
Both my daughter and my daughter-in-law struggle with anxiety. Any time they come to me with something troubling them, my first advise is turn on some praise worship. I know in my life, when I have struggles, praise music causes me to refocus. My thoughts turn from what is troubling me to the ONE who can handle my troubles. I am so thankful for this discipline an try to keep it a priority in my life.
Is He Worthy?
https://youtu.be/OIahc83Kvp4
Oh yes, He IS!
Worship is the best, it not only brings praise to our almighty Father it heals us. During the times I am at my lowest point and it is feels impossible to praise Him (so satan wants you to think), and you don’t even think you can get a single word our of your mouth, you feel lost and alone. Oh those are the times you must praise Him and the healing power you experience is unbelievable He is right there with you taking one word at a time into full praise. Yes today is a praise worthy day as is everyone.
How is God calling me to worship Him today?
Look what popped up just now!!!
I love to worship! I absolutely do! Its my place, my connection point with the Lord. It is where I am refilled, refuelled, restored.
But some years ago, in my early days of my walk with God, for a day I fell out with God.. my life seemed set deep in a valley I could see no way out of. Though I praised, I worshipped, I held fast to God, this particular day, I was done, I was giving up, I was not talking to God, I was a mess!
My youngest son, came home and found me crying in my room, asked me what was going on… I told him I was done with God, He was not listening to me anymore so I was not going to talk to Him either! My son hugged me and dissappeared. Next thing, I hear worship music, and him coming up the stairs with a cup of tea..
I tell you this why?
This beautiful hearted young lad, had watched his mom over time, and seen that while she can worship, while she can praise, while she can be in the Lords presence through worship, she could function, mom could feel alive, and not be too sad..
But God…
O dear wonderful loving God,
Aside from using my son to remind me of who He is, He showed me what our relationship was.. Loving, not sugar coated, but all encompassing true to the core Father-daughter Love.
God, as I write, has me realising that as I worship Him, as I surrender ALL, in worship, it is a two way thing,
HE DELIGHTS, AND I AM BLESSED!
What a revelation! Thank you Lord God. Thank you.
Thank you.
What more can I add..
God,has had the last word.. I can add no more!
Amen!
Amen!
Amen!
Praying blessing over ya’ll this fine Tuesday morning wrapped in love!❤❤
Morning sisters…
The worst just happened..
I wrote a whole load on worship and I’ve lost it!
Not time to rewrite, as I have pups to feed, and work in an hour… sorry..
But God..
He gave me a revelation as I wrote..
When you worship, when you abandon yourself in worship, giving your ALL, It is a two way thing..
HE DELIGHTS AND YOU ARE BLESSED!
Thank you Lord God. Thank you. Thank you.
Amen!
May your Tuesday sisters be wrapped in blessings..❤
I think the whole ‘he doesn’t need it ita for us’ thing is so unhelpful! If we go into worship with that mindset we are either focusing on what we need or feeling like it’s pointless because he doesn’t need it anyway. God is full, we know that, but he chose to create a people to bring him worship and pleasure so our worship does bring him pleasure and even more so because its his people livving out the purpose he created them for! It’s like the power made perfect in weakness thing, he is already complete, but this is one of his things, he loves it, he loves us to do it, it joins us with the heavenly beings and brings so much to him (what is rightly his!) as well as us!
Worship: the practice of responding to the greatness of God with adoration, praise, and gratitude. This is why the beauty of God’s creation so often makes me want to break out in a chorus of “How Great Thou Art!” Truly God is great and His works are marvelous to behold!