If worship is always the same experience over and over again, then is my focus on the unsearchable, unfathomable God? Or on a comfortable routine?
Is it on inviting God’s Spirit to move and reveal? Or is it on making sure I’m still in control somehow?
Would we say “no” to God if He sat us down to tell us in advance what He longed for our worship to be?
But wait – He has. And sadly, we often do say, “no.”
Is it fear? Pride? Disinterest? Distractions? Or even distaste?
Either way, sin (“whatever is not from faith”, Romans 14:23) is preventing us from seeing and savoring our God. And from welcoming and worshiping Him.
If God is who He says He is – and He is – then we need to trust Him with our worship of Him.
We need to let Him set the heights and depths. We need to let go of our preconceived ideas and lean into His purpose and intimacy in worship with great expectation and awe.
He gave us His Holy Spirit for moments such as these. (Ok, and for every other moment.) His Spirit guides, enlightens, encourages, reveals, convicts, and prepares us for the foot of the throne. There is no substitute.
And then we need to expect God to be God.
Expect:
~ His promised presence – “ . . . the LORD is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him”( 2 Chronicles 15:2).
~ His revealed glory – “Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory” (Psalm 63:2).
~ Convicted sin – “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts . . . Woe is me, for I am ruined! . . . For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:3,5).
~ Changed perspective, with moments of – “Until I came into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end” (Psalm 73:17).
~ Spiritual transformation – “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV).
The more you and I entrust to God – to our unfathomable God (so know Him) – the freer He is to work and move to draw us into a time purer, deeper personal worship. What an incredible picture of who He is – of His incredible love for us and His amazing grace towards us!
So ask God what His desire is for your worship – what you need to open your hands to and what you need to let go of (especially sin). How does He want you to prepare for worship, and what does He want you to offer Him when you come? Don’t rush His answer – listen.
And invite Him to set the heights and depths of your times at His feet as He opens your eyes to His glory. Then refuse to settle for the same routine over and over. Expect God to be God when you worship!
What do you feel is the greatest inhibitor to allowing God control of our worship of Him – to expecting God to be God?
Painting by Anna Podedworna
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