Devo - Living our Beliefs: Worship

 March 20th, 2016 

Devotional

“Living Our Beliefs: Why Worship?” - John 4: 21-24

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Worship: Exalt and Praise God” - Isaiah 25:1 

What does the word “worship” mean to you? For most people worship is linked to a worship service. More, importantly, why do you worship? Some people come to church because it’s “the right thing to do” or because “it’s always been that way”. But worship is about so much more - it is about exalting and praising God. 

Worship is about celebrating God. We all worship something, even if we don’t realize it. We all pledge our allegiance or swear by some form of worship to give their life meaning, even if its swearing that there is nothing worthy of worship. That’s still a choice, a decision to form life by. But when we gather together in worship we say that there is someone worthy of Worship, worthy to align our lives by, and that someone is God. 

We worship to proclaim that the person we value the most in our lives is God, and that no one else will ever compare to our God. In fact, we value our relationship with God so much that we desire to follow, commune, and seek to serve our living God. 

How do you define worship? 

What does worshipping God mean to you? What does worshipping God add to your life?

Prayer: Loving God, we confess that sometimes we try to make worship about us - about how we feel or about why we worship, but you gently remind us that worship is about so much more than ourselves, its about you, the very one we worship. Use our worship to exalt and praise you. Use our worship to celebrate you. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Worship in Spirit and Truth” - John 4: 23-24

A worship service isn’t the definition of worship, its not the be all, end all. In fact, it’s only a tiny piece of it. We worship God when we put him first in our lives. We should worship God every day, but sometimes that is a struggle. It can be a struggle at times to give our very hearts to God.

It’s only when we put God first that we can really transform. That’s why so many people get absolutely nothing out of a once a week service. We need to be seeking God daily. In John 4” 23-24 speaks about worshipping God in spirit and truth, which happens when we put God first. I have friends who have intimately loved God for years who are just now realizing the struggle that comes with displacing ourselves and our wants for what God wants for us. But they also know that putting God first, is what’s best for us, and anything less would be settling.

How do you know your heart is worshipping God? 

Prayer:  Lord, we confess that sometimes we confuse a worship service that takes place one day a week is different that worshipping you. Help us to put you first and foremost, not just on Sunday’s, but every day. Amen. 

Wednesday: “ Do I Know You?” - Matthew 7: 21-22

Perhaps it is our lack of celebration, a lack of authentic worship that Jesus is addressing in today’s passage in Matthew. We should have joy in God and want to celebrate God, in all times and at all places. Because those who truly intimately have sought God and know God, can’t help but celebrate God’s goodness! 

We can celebrate God when we are alone just as we can celebrate God when we gather together on Sunday mornings. We can worship God when we are having a terrible day and are lamenting. We can worship God when we are overwhelmed. We can celebrate God in the midst of grieving hearts and burdensome loads and regrets along with the amazing moments.

What enables you to worship God in all places and all circumstances?

How do you respond to Jesus’s teaching in Matthew?

Prayer: Lord, sometimes your words seem harsh and can cut down to our core. The fact that you will declare to some that you never knew them and to get away are among those words, O Lord. Help us to live our lives in ways that proclaim you and your goodness, in all places and times. Amen.

Thursday: “Worshipping through Prayer” - Acts 16:25

Worship and prayer are interconnected. We prayer together so we can lift up the body together. We pray because honestly that is the most powerful, amazing tool that we have as Christians. We get to communicate with the Holy Most High King. Sometimes we can struggle in our personal prayer lives, but when we gather to worship with others and see the faith that they have in prayer, the zeal, and we can desire to communicate with God more passionately. 

We pray corporately because we all have different concerns. We prayer together because there is strength in numbers. God wants us to pray big prayers. We can have weak prayers today, praying for what we already know we are going to get or praying as a last ditch effort. But prayers can move mountains, and our faith in God and in prayer is so much stronger and is renewed when we gather for this time of worship.

How are prayer and worship interconnected to you?

How do you pray differently in corporate worship than in private worship? Which are you more comfortable with? 

Prayer: Lord, you call us to be people of prayer. Sometimes we forget that our prayers are an act of worship - both individually and corporately. Thank you for the gift of prayer and how it helps us to get closer to you. May our prayers glorify you. Amen. 

Friday: “Who is This Man?” - Psalm 66:3-4

I hear people say all the time that they “come to worship to be filled just so they can get through the week.” But worship is not a gas station. You do not worship primarily for you. If you worship God, you will be filled because God rejoices in the praise of God’s people. God wants to fill you, depend on God, and be filled by God’s presence. But this is all secondary to the fact that we are to worship God simply for who God is. The Psalmist sings of this type of praise and worship of God.  

What helps you worship as the Psalmist?

How do you focus your worship on God?

Prayer: God, help us to worship, not to fill our own spirits, but to rejoice in you and your presence. May our worship be about you alone, precious Lord. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Living Our Beliefs: The Sacrament of Baptism” - Col 2: 12 and 1 Cor 12:13.