Daily Dwelling

I have been apart of worship for most of my life. I guess people noticed a gifting in me from childhood and it just became part of my upbringing! I have been involved in the church choir, cantatas, and other worship services since I was about 5-6 years old. Because of this, I think my view of worship was only really defined as corporate worship for most of my life. As I have matured and walked alongside Jesus longer He has taught me that biblical worship is much more than a song.

John 4:23 says, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” I read that many years ago when I was leading worship pretty frequently at my home church in college and it convicted me. Did I do that well? Did I even know what worshipping in spirit meant? Did I value both aspects of biblical worship equally?

After deeper study and prayer the Lord made it clear to me. To worship in spirit meant that worship had to come from within my own changed spirit. To worship in truth is to recognize that your worship cannot rise any higher than your own concept and understanding of God. Realizing these truths made me more passionate about pursuing the Lord intimately.

Intimacy with God grows when we repent often, sit in silence more, meditate on scripture, become more vulnerable before Him, and stay in relentless pursuit of Him. I am in no means a master of these things, however, I have seen the fruit reflected in my worship when I am in constant pursuit of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

So is worship more than just a song? Absolutely. To worship something is to place it above everything else. A scary truth is that anything can be worshipped, but when we worship God we do so with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Allowing our lives to be Biblical worship is to live our lives surrendered to God. Not just on a Sunday, or at bible study, or when we feel empty. When our life is worship to God, He becomes the center of every decision, action, thought, and moment of our day.

The Pharisees looked like they worshipped God, but their hearts were unaligned. They knew how to walk in the truth part of worship well, but were spiritually dead. There is a reason John 4 mentions in spirit and in truth. It must be both. In order for that to be done in us, we must be in constant pursuit of who God is and we must also yield up our spirit to be transformed daily.

I want to end this entry by sharing the lyrics to one of my favorite songs: Pure by Abbie Gamboa

Coming back to just me and You
Just a heart song singing out of tune
I remember the simplicity
Just to feel You here was everything

Stunned by Your beauty
This is my offering

Find me like a child again
Full of wonder, full of innocence
Before anything got in the way
Any dream or any accolade

You make it easy
Easy to bring me

Not for anything that I could gain
Just to honor You and bring You praise
Like a fragrance broken on the floor
May my worship be pure
There’s no motive, there’s no hidden catch
Here’s my all and I don’t want it back
Like a fragrance broken on the floor
May my worship be pure

And it’s all about You