God knows the way: What is worship? The first of many...

What is Worship?

I believe Worship:
- is a heart based action
- should be constant
- great form of communion
- does not require any song, music or "sweet sounding melody"*

* according to OUR standards of what one is.

1 Chronicles 16:23-24 ESV

"23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!
25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be held in awe above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.
28 Ascribe to the LORD, O clans of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;
30 tremble before hhim, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!"
32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it!
33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.
34 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!"

"Worship is at the core of what we do." - Pastor Micah Knox, unitednw church

How often do you consider worship when you speak to Him? It's a built in sweet-spot just for God, reserved solely for Him and His exaltation. I had to ask myself, how often do I actually worship God?

Psalm 138 ESV
"1 I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
3 On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.
4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth,
5 and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.
6 For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands."

I wasn't happy with what I found, let me tell ya. I had committed to nothing more than secular songs and a great lack of praise. My life? Wasn't constant communion, constant exhalation, it was actually, kinda boring.

I decided to change my thinking and consider worship, every time, to be exciting. More than any action movie, roller coaster or football game.

He's asked you to lay your life down, what first He gave He also is due. Don't be careless, don't shrug it off, take it serious.

Remember what He said? Everything you say, from the heart, can make or break you.

Matthew 15:10-20
"10 And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand:
11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person."
12 Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"
13 He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.
14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit."
15 But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us."
16 And he said, "Are you also still without understanding?
17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled?
18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.
19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone."

This then I ask of you, raise Him up with me, Sit with me in singing His name; Stand with me in declaring His glory; Walk with me to baptize nations and through our faith and dedication to the one High King the world will open up in song.

Worship with me, church, that we may see His Glory.