“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’” – Revelation 5:13
St. Augustine once said, “O Lord, grant that I may desire Thee, and desiring Thee, seek Thee, and seeking Thee, find Thee, and finding Thee, be satisfied with Thee forever.”
Sad but true it often takes a crisis in our lives or more joyously a time solitude, such as a walk in the woods, to help us start wrapping our arms around the grandeur of God Almighty.
For me the quietness of the beautiful vast forest is the perfect backdrop to consider the attributes and importance of worship. Whether it be through prayer, song, mediation, reflection, or listening to a message on my iPod I can sense God’s presence, power, and love.
We talk about worshipping all the time. Most of us experience it at a church service or conference program. Why can’t we feel more “worshipful” all the time? In reading my daily devotional, entitled Amazing Grace, I came across some thoughts that merit further consideration.
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was, and is, and is to come” – Revelation 4:8. These are the words of worship that believers will proclaim in Heaven one day. Approximately 150 years ago, an Anglican minister, Reginald Heber, used this majestic text to write a beautiful hymn. It is still one of the hymns most frequently used in our corporate worship around Easter.
Worship is the cornerstone of a believer’s spiritual life. The bedrock of the local church is its worship service, and all aspects of the church’s ministry are founded here. It is only as a Christian truly worships that he begins to grow spiritually. Learning to worship and praise God, then, should be a believer’s lifetime pursuit. Our worship reflects the depth of our relationship with God. We must learn to worship God not only for what He is doing in our personal lives, but above all for who He is—His being, character, and actions.
Next time we give ourselves to worship, let’s think about how we can spiritually grow.
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care. – Psalm 95:6-7
Personal Application:
What are the times you feel closest to God? How can you create more moments in your life and schedule to know God more intimately? What kind of worship music creates moments of peace and tranquility?