Worship- It's Not About You
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In our group discussions on worship and my own studies I concluded what worship was to me. Here are my thoughts on true worship.
Worship; what is it? Do we really know what true worship is? Is it being on your knees praying? Is it the slow songs that we sang after the praise songs at church? Is it praying to a statue or symbol? The Strongs Hebrew and Greek dictionary gives a few different meanings of worship. Here are a few:
A primitive root; to depress, that is, prostrate (especially reflexively in homage to royalty or God): - bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop; properly to carve, that is, fabricate or fashion; hence (in a bad sense) to worry, pain or anger: - displease, grieve, hurt, make, be sorry, vex, worship, wrest. to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore); to revere, that is, adore: - devout, religious, worship. glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literally or figuratively, objectively or subjectively): - dignity, glory (-ious), honour, praise, worship.
As we can see they are different forms of worship. There is a physical form of worship as in bowing, crouching or stooping down. Then there are verbal forms of worship as in giving praise even with a song. There are also forms of worship that are actually sentimental feelings like grieving, worrying, anger, sorrow and pain. Last but not least there is a lifestyle type worship as in living your life in honor, reverence, adoration and giving glory. Not one of those things is for us. There are all in submission to God for God.
When I look at these definitions and look at the forms of worship in the Bible, it was always about Him. Here are my feelings on what worship is to me: It's anything that I do to please God. That's it. No more, no less. This is very broad though and that's not always easy.What pleases God? Does singing songs to Him please Him? Does falling on your face praying and praising Himplease Him? I think it does if outside thoseconditions you are trying your best to live a life of obedience. Let me put it to you in alife situation. If I sing to my wife love songs and read her beautiful sentimental poems, will she like that. Absolutely. But will that matter if I cheat on her or talk bad about her when she is not around? Although she loves the songs and the poems she would prefer for me to be faithful to her and love her the way God wanted me to love her. Don't get me wrong. Worshiping God in song and prayer is great but I feel that what God really wants is your obedience and faithfulness. When you are obedient to Him andare faithful through the good and the bad it showsHim true worship and that's what truly pleases him. So keep worshiping him through song or whatever means that you do as long as it's not for you to feel good but to be pleasing to Him. Also, always work on being as faithful as possible and do your best at living a life pleasing to Him. To me that's true worship.
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Most of us have prayed out of convenience without realizing the power our prayers have. It does take discipline but it's necessary. That's why we must pray without ceasing and always give thanks. 1Thes 5:17,18
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When we think about 'Transformers' some of us think about the cartoon and movie about the cars that turn into robots. Well at least I do. I guess that was part of my childhood memories. But what does being a 'Transformer' have to do with helping us grow spiritually and know the "Will of God"? Here are my thoughts.
http://www.unpluggedchurch.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=46765&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
No, I'm not going anywhere. I just want to really say "Thank You" to the whole unplugged group and to all who have been there through the struggles. All of you have really been important in my life and I wanted all of you to know how much I appreciate you.
