PREPARING TO WORSHIP
I love to worship, to really get carried away in my heart praising God. I’m sure you do as well. It’s a command we love to obey. Yet often our worship is more external than really coming from the heart. I remember many times standing in from of the congregation I was pastoring watching people as the first song was sung. People would continue talking to each other, or come rushing in at the last second busy with coats and Bibles and disturbing everyone around them. Then they would join in the song. I’d wonder how they could switch their mind and emotions from the business around them to worshipping Jesus so quickly. I know for me there is no invisible switch I can turn on to get in a worshipful place. In fact, I am easily distracted when trying to worship. My mind seems to go everywhere and things that have no place in my thoughts during worship keep popping in. So, what’s the magic key to turning on a worshipful mood at a moment’s notice? There isn’t one. But don’t stop reading now for there is hope.
I clearly remember going to church with my mother as a very young boy. We would enter the pew and in our rather formal church no one talked before the service, they sat quietly preparing for worship. I wish churches still did that today! My mother would fold her hands in prayer, close her eyes and stand for a few minutes, then sit and continue to pray. I remember wondering what she was doing – the service hadn’t even started yet. Later I realized she was preparing her heart to meet with God during the service. I can’t tell you how much that impacted this little boy and what it taught me about coming into God’s presence! There was respect, awe, preparation and anticipation. I think too often we are too casual about coming into God’s presence. If we were coming into the president of the US we would be better prepared and more respectful and focused.
Worship is not just a routine appointment. We are preparing to communicate with the Great I AM. There is only one God. The maker of Heaven and earth. God is true, alive, and active in our lives. Scripture confirms that our Savior is standing in our midst when two or more are gathered in His name (Matthew 18:20). If He were coming to our house for dinner we would be well prepared. We would want to make a great first impression. How can we do less with God?
How can we shift our mindset from our me-centered focus to Christ-centered worship, at home or at church?
- FOCUS ON JESUS. In church or out, find a place where you can quietly focus without undue distractions. In church I must sit close to the front or I am too easily distracted. Out of church find a place that is relaxing and special for you. It’s best to do this first thing in the morning, before your mind and life gets too cluttered and busy. That’s what Jesus did (Mark 1:35). Focus your thoughts on Jesus. “Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3.
- HUMBLY PRAY TO JESUS. Prepare your heart to be in the presence of God. God can read our hearts, and He knows when our prayers are sincere or just lip service (Psalm 44:41). It is the humble heart crying out to God that opens the pathway to Heaven: “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit and who tremble at my word” (Isaiah 66:2). Remove your mask of pride and self-sufficiency, break down the wall that protects you from the hurts and pains of life. Kneeling can be a good way to do this, although that is another tradition we have gotten away from in our churches today. When not in church you can kneel, or sit on the floor. In India the people take off their shoes before entering church, or even when praying at home. That’s a good way to enter God’s presence. God told Moses to take off his sandals for God’s presence was holy (Exodus 3:5). Make sure there is no unconfessed sin in your life as you come into the presence of a holy God (1 John 1:9).
- PRAISE JESUS. Thank Him for all He has done for you, but go beyond that and praise Him for Who and what He is and does. You might not like all He is doing so you don’t think you can thank Him for it. But you can praise Him. Think about what your life would be like without Him. List His wonderful attributes. Focus on Him, not yourself or your life. Praise is all about Him (Psalm 22:3; 150:2). Worship isn’t just about wanting an emotional high to pump up our faith for a few days, worship is focused on Him and His greatness, not us and our need. It’s all about Him, not all about us. Singing can be a good way to do this (Psalm 47:6; 95:1). Worship is more than singing, but music can be a great way to worship. That’s one of the main reasons God created music. We’ll be doing lots of singing in heaven!
- LISTEN TO JESUS. Good communication happens when one person speaks and the other listens, then the roles are reversed. Don’t just talk to Jesus, spend as much time listening in stillness as you do talking. You aren’t telling Him anything He doesn’t already know, but He has many things He wants to say to you. You may not be familiar with recognizing His voice. Just listen to the still, small voice you sense in your spirit and you will be listening to Him. Just be quiet, meditate, and wait patiently for Him to communicate (Psalm 37:7). It is during these times we allow Jesus to calm the storm within (Mark 4:35-41).
Worship isn’t waiting for the musicians on the stage to entertain us. Worship is what happens in our heart when we think of Jesus. God isn’t listening for the quality of the show the musicians put on, He is listening to our hearts. What does He hear? Are we focused on Him or allowing our minds to go all over the place, thinking about anything but Him?
Psalm 150:1,6 Praise the Lord. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
What seems to make it hardest for you to worship? What can you do about it?
When have you had your best times of worship? What can you learn from them to improve your worship other times?
Take some time now to practice the above 4 steps and worship.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India & Africa & Spanish Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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