WATCHWORD:
Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:18b-20
Meditation:
True Worship
Do you think we get ingrained in our habits, preferences, and expectations, to the point where it interferes with our worship? Are you concerned about different styles of worship music? Are there people sitting in YOUR pew? Are there versions of the Bible where the scripture has more meaning for you? Said a different way, are there versions that take you out of a worshipful mindset?
I would confess that the Amplified Version of the Bible often distracts me because too often it seems to be stating the obvious. I read Ending Your Day Right, by Joyce Meyer, before bedtime. She often prefers the Amplified Version. I know I should give this to the Lord, but occasionally the reading interferes with my worship as I settle down for the night. That’s pretty weak, isn’t it?
Have you thought that your worship, your prayer life is your life being poured out to God for his glory? I find that my prayer life leads to my practical life being given to the Lord. The result causes me joy and to think about lyrics and music. I break into song, such as Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place, or Amazing Grace. I think it’s right and good for us to make music to honor Him. Music may be your witness. The words we speak, the way we dance or perform, these devotionals I write, are all ways in which we honor our Lord.
We are uniquely crafted to offer the thoughts and the music of our hearts to the Lord. We should not be shy as we seek God and pray that he would develop and bring from you the thoughts and the music of your soul. There’s something very true about making a joyful noise unto the Lord. That’s not a put down of people’s singing it’s just a reminder that it isn’t so much what falls on our human ears, as what reaches God as praise and gratitude from His creation.
What’s all this mean? Simply this, it isn’t jus the music you’re listening to, it isn’t the time of worship, it isn’t the sermon being preached, it isn’t even the prayers that you may be speaking. Worship may be all of that, but it is what is happening within your heart, the surrender and praise to God that is true worship. Give it all to our creator God. Amen.
Closing Prayer:
Lord thank you that our prayers rise before you, and you give attention to them. Thank you for the freedoms we have — the freedoms to worship, pray, sing, and acknowledge Jesus as lord, you have blessed us in so many ways. Forgive us when we fail to recognize it. You are the source of all that we have. All that we have and all that we are is because of you and we thank you for it today. Lord of our hearts, Lord of our lives, we look to you to establish us and to keep us. We praise you for your faithfulness and your love for us. In Jesus name, amen.
