While you may know the truth that God is always with you, you may have trouble sensing His presence. Worship helps you encounter Him in new and exciting ways, bringing a taste of heaven into your life today.
Here are some ways you can rekindle the flame of worship in your life:
- Make it a top priority to cultivate intimacy with God. Set aside time and energy for spending time with Him on a regular basis.
- Be curious about God. Decide to pursue Him, hoping to discover more about Him every day. Remember that He will reveal more about Himself to those who genuinely seek Him.
- Adopt attitudes of humility and reverence. Remember that God made you and treat Him with respect and awe.
- Prepare your mind and spirit before engaging in worship. Take some time to be still and silent, clearing your mind of distractions. If some thoughts are particularly bothering you, write them down and put the paper aside until you've finished worshipping. Begin your worship by reflecting on God's attributes, then praise Him for who He is and thank Him for His work in your life.
- Remember the purpose of worship - expressing your hunger for God. Check your motivations. Don't worship to impress others or to get an emotional thrill out of the experience. Instead, worship to encounter God.
- Consider that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work when people genuinely worship. Expect to experience something exciting if you're sincerely seeking God.
- Yield to the Holy Spirit's leading in worship rather than following a preset agenda. Expect the unexpected as you worship.
- Feel free to use your body to express praise in worship. You may want to kneel, lift your arms, clap your hands, or dance.
- Read and meditate on Scripture, then let that lead you into worship.
- Ask God to fit you in well with other people as you worship together. Ask Him to use others to help transform you so that all of you will mature together better than you would have on your own. Seek to empty your life of selfishness so God will fill it with His love.
Adapted from Rekindled Flame: The Passionate Pursuit of God, copyright 2002 by Steven Fry. Published by Multnomah Publishers, Inc., Sisters, Or., www.multnomahbooks.com, 1-800-929-0910.
Steve Fry is the author of I AM: The Unveiling of God and has recorded four Christian worship albums, including the Dove-award nominated We Are Called. He is the producer/director of the Storyteller Project and presently chairs the Messenger Fellowship, a national network of spiritual leaders. A popular conference speaker, Steve lives with his wife, Nancy, and their three children in Brentwood, Tn.
Do you encounter God's presence during your worship, or does your worship seem more like a ritual that doesn't really help you encounter God? What are some of the ways you worship God, and why? Visit Crosswalk's forums to discuss this topic by clicking on the link below.