joeywithammusic

I love the way Mat Redman simply says, “Worship always begins with God.  Apart from His willingness to share Himself with us we would never see His face, forever stranded from His intimate embrace” (Redman).  When I read that and think about being stranded from God's embrace I think about how lonely and empty I would be.  We must be in God's Word...we must remember that worship begins with God and is all about God. 

Worship is a lifestyle, and in our lives it takes on different forms.  It’s our expression of our love to God.  Generally, Christians believe worship to be the music portion of a church service - people singing songs to God, eyes closed, and hands raised in the air as they sing.  Worship happens when we sing to God, whether in church or alone, in our cars or in the shower.  If our desire is to please the heart of God, it is worship, no matter where the location or how many are involved.  Worship has no parameters.

True worship is the celebration of being in covenant fellowship with the sovereign and holy God.  Describing worship as a celebration does not nullify the fact that it is a service or that there are solemn and serious aspects to it.  When we gather for cooperate worship in our local church we are celebrating.  We are responding.  If you were to open up the roof on any given Sunday you could look and see fellow believers worshipping their Lord.  At a closer look you could see those who are seeking and not sure about this God thing.  That’s why worshipping God should be the sole focus of the service.  From the opening song, to the offertory prayer, through the message, and the invitation – God is to be worshiped.