XXI: True Worship

Romans 12: 1

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Every single thing we do to honor God is worship. It is a lifestyle.

When our life is honoring God, our actions and our words intersect. We intersect with God. Our lives are authentic. We have one life: not a home life, a church life, a school life, a work life, etc. One life.

In John 4, Jesus calls us to authentic worship. "Worship is turning your mind's attention and you're hearts affection to God. It's declaring, by word and deed, God's great goodness, power, and mercy."

So what about worship music?

"Worship songs bring us into the presence of God. Sometimes that experience is wonderfully comforting, but sometimes God chooses to shine his light on sin in our lives." When we are singing worship songs, allow the song to be: a spotlight on your heart, the cry of your heart, a benchmark of your integrity, and translated from lyrics to your lifestyle.

The other day, I was at church singing the song by ANTHEM, To Do Your Will. I just stopped. I thought about Jesus following the Father's will. He asks our Father to take away the unbearable, excruciating pain of the Cross. Jesus knew this reality that following the Father's will was the crucible of choice. In Matthew 26:42, Jesus prayed "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." I sat in silence while voices harmonized around me. I wanted that to be the cry of my heart and the action produced in my life. I knew that at that moment, God tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Now, Jessica, listen. Just listen. I want you to reorder your heart. I want to be in the center. I know you want to do my will, but you have to give up yours right now." That checked my integrity and caused me to come to back to the Cross.

Sometimes, just listening to the lyrics and the voices is more powerful than singing or lifting our hands high. Hearing a thousand voices reminds us of what God has done and yet to do... Listening and Following Jesus is a lifestyle, a life worth living.