Have you ever thought about someone or something day and night? Did you make this someone or something the priority of your life, or the obsession you could not give up? This is a type of worship.
Or maybe you felt the need to bow down to various gods or idols? You might have needed a helping hand, and you thought bowing down to various gods would bring you good luck and protection. This is also a type of worship.
Before meeting Jesus, we probably partook in one or both of these types of worship. God had placed the desire to worship in all our hearts. We lived this out somehow, even if we chased after the wrong idols.
But what is God’s true intention when He designed us to be worshippers? What is this need in our heart, and how can we worship the right One in spirit and truth?
Hole in the heart
A wise man used to say, “there has been a God-shaped hole in the heart of every person. Only God can fill that hole”.[1] God desires to fill the void in our hearts. Unlike other gods that cannot do anything for us, our God is almighty and all things are possible with Him. Unlike idols that often lead to unhealthy relationships or obsessions, our God can fulfill our deepest longings.
God is the best. He is the most wise, loving, beautiful, interesting, fun, creative, and wonderful Person in existence. He is the source of every good. Only this perfect Being can meet our heart’s desires. Only this perfect God is deserving of our worship.
“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4)
Don’t chase after anything else, because they can never truly fulfill us. It is tiring to chase one thing after another, because they cannot satisfy us for long. Instead, seek God and make Him first in your life, and you will never have to hunt for joy or fulfillment again. God will fill you with all joy. “In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” (Psalm 16:11)
Praise God and thank Him in prayer
One of the ways to worship God is through prayer. Begin prayer with praise and thanksgiving. Jesus taught His disciples to start prayer like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9). So we can begin prayer by lifting up His holy name. Tell Him how much He means to you, thank Him for the things He has done, and praise Him for His awesomeness.
At least once a day, start prayer like this before talking to Him about anything else.
Praise God and thank Him in song
“Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!” (Psalm 96:1)
Another way to worship God is through songs. You don’t need to be at church to sing worship songs. You can sing to Him anywhere. Turn on some worship music and sing along. When you worship, remember to think about what you are singing.
The words matter more than the music. God looks at the heart. Do you sing to God like you mean the words of the song? Or do you sing to God, not even thinking about the lyrics? Think about the lyrics as you sing. Sing it like you mean it. Then it becomes a true act of worship.
Offer Him a living sacrifice
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Finally, we can worship God by offering ourselves and our lives to Him. Give up the things you used to do that are displeasing to Him. Ask God to renew your mind to think differently. Listen to God’s direction and obey Him. Then you will live out God’s will for you, and prove to those around you how God provides the best and most fulfilling life if you yield to Him.
[1] Roughly quoting Dr. James Kennedy from Coral Ridge Ministries.
Q & A: Do you mean I should love God more than my family?
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:37)
It is not that we should not love our parents or spouse or children. It is that we should love God more than them. God should always take the number one spot in our hearts. Only when we love God the most, can we love people more. In fact, we can love our parents, spouse, and children much better if we place God as our first priority. He will tell us when the words we say or the things we do are actually hurting them. He will call us to not be angry with them and respect them more. As a matter of fact, God gives the best advice for relationships with our loved ones:
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right…. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:1,4)
“Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” (Proverbs 23:22)
“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:22)
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25)
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)
God wants us to worship only Him. As we do, we can love other people more.
Read Psalm 100 in the Bible.
Learn how to remove idols from your home and your heart.