An Act of Worship
Have you ever noticed how differently you pray at different times? When we pray, sometimes we are loud, sometimes quiet, sometimes animated, sometimes subdued, sometimes tearful, sometimes joyful. Even the types of our prayers can vary greatly. Sometimes they are prayers of thanksgiving, sometimes supplication, sometimes intercession, sometimes the prayer of faith, etc. Regardless of the style or type of prayer, it’s important to understand that every time we pray, it is to be an act of worship. This doesn’t mean that every prayer is to be in hushed or somber tones, or that the type of prayer has to be totally focused on God, not bringing others to His remembrance. Let’s consider what else an act of worship doesn’t mean.
In our minds, we might limit the concept of worship to being something that takes place only in certain locations and in certain ways. For instance, we call our Sunday and mid-week services worship services. We say that when we sing a particular type of music, we are worshiping. Specifically saying to the Lord either, “I worship You,” or something similar, we also consider worship. All of these, when done with a heart towards God, truly are forms of worship. That is not as far as our worship goes, though – just certain words, music, or church-related activities.
Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.” Amplified
Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.” Amplified
You see, worship is really in the attitude of our heart. As such, no matter what we do, as long as our hearts are focused on God, we are worshiping Him. It isn’t that we think non-stop about Jesus, but that our hearts are aimed at Him from having committed our lives to Him each day. This is true not only for those parts of our lives we consider religious, though it certainly includes those things. This is also true for everything else we do, including such everyday things as grocery shopping, caring for children, computer programming, being a good neighbor, managing people’s money, cleaning house, driving a truck, teaching school, etc.
Worship has been God’s intention for prayer all along, just as it’s been His intention for all our other activities in life. Think about it for a moment. When we pray, it’s not just a matter of communicating with the Lord. When we breathe and talk and walk, we are not on our own. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, we are actually in the Presence of God Himself – at all times! That is so wonderful to consider, and so important to remember. When we pray from a heart of worship, we directly acknowledge that God is everything He has shown Himself to be in His Word; therefore, we are able to pray with much greater boldness and authority, for we know He will do what He has promised in His Word. Likewise, when we live with this revelation, we live with much greater boldness and authority, for the very same reason. And it’s all for His glory!
If you struggle sometimes with the feeling that your prayer is a perfunctory duty that needs to be, must be, or should be done, or that those activities you do day in and day out are mundane and of no eternal value, I pray that seeing your whole life as an act of worship to the Lord will be just the adjustment you need. After all, the Lord isn’t interested in us performing a duty in anything we do. Doing everything in dependence upon the Lord Jesus, whether praying or taking out the trash, is another opportunity for reasonable service to and spiritual worship of Him. Isn’t that why we were created?
© Copyright 2008 Kay V. Stocking
