God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
JOHN CH.4:24
Growing up, I attended an old-school, West Indian Pentecostal church.
There were certain things I was required to do such as, wear a hat, never have a conversation with my brother during the service (or at least, never get caught!) and always, always be loud in worship.
For someone who was painfully shy, you can probably see how this would be a problem for me.
I would always be so concerned that someone was watching me. My Pastor, on more than one occasion pulled me to the front of the church and made me shout a praise while everyone else was quiet and looked on.
It was humiliating and embarrassing.
It fed the thoughts that said I wasn’t good enough.
I thought God thought my praise wasn’t good enough.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms.
PSALM 95:2
Verses like this that referred to noise were often thrown at me to reinforce the fact that I was doing it wrong.
But it wasn’t a fact and I wasn’t wrong.
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
PSALM 95:6
Worship isn’t just shouting a praise. It isn’t just singing.
Worship is also:
- when I bow before the LORD, when I don’t have any words but I cannot stop the tears from falling.
- when I respond with kindness when it’s easier to lash out in anger.
- when I show the love of God to those who aren’t showing love to me, because let’s face it, it’s far easier to love loveable people, right?
How do I know this? Let’s go back to the word.
Wherefore the LORD said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men:
ISAIAH CH.29:13
It’s so easy to come to church and offer lip-service in praise, to follow the religious rules of men and yet – God is looking at our hearts.
God is looking for sincere, true worship – in spirit and in truth.
Whether you ‘shout unto God with a voice of triumph’ (Psalm 47:1) or sing, or clap, or silently bow before Him, however you choose to worship let it be from a true heart.
This is the worship the LORD truly loves to receive.
Love and blessings
xx
Steadfast Love 