Worship.......

I recently applied for a position with a local church for their Worship Leader position. This consist of several levels of interviews. First there was a phone interview, followed by a face-to-face which included preparing and performing (singing and playing guitar), next step is leading worship one Sunday, and for me that Sunday is September 18th, finally the congregation will then vote on which Worship Leader they feel/believe is best suited for the position. I am very excited about this opportunity for a number of reasons. I am very passionate about music, that passion is never more lived out then when I can use the gifts that God has given me to fulfill the very reason we were created for and that is to worship and glorify God. In addition, it is an honor and privilege to be in the position to help others point their hearts toward God not just to help them connect with God but to help them ready their hearts and minds to receive from God.

By definition, worship is ascribing worth to something or someone. But true worship is a matter of the heart. It must be felt. It can't be ritualistic. It can't be just an external going through the motions. True worship is a heartfelt expression of love, adoration, admiration, fascination, wonder and celebration. It's something that happens in your heart and soul when you begin to praise God for who He is and thank Him for what he has done.

There is nothing difficult about worship. Christian or non-Christian, pagan or holy, every human being was designed to worship, and does worship - something. Consider a group of sports fans watching and talking about a game. They worship. Consider a group of teenagers at a concert. They worship. We readily worship food, sports, arts and music. We worship comfort, control, power, achievement, work, money, and relationships, but God calls us to worship Him. He commands it, desires it, pursues it, deserves it and will reward it.

Worship brings an upward look, a glance at God on His throne in all His glory. It refocuses our view of God. It pulls our affections off our idols, and we all have them, and puts them onto God. It causes us to remember how good He is, how big, kind, powerful, loving and how holy He is.

Worship also brings and inward look. When we see God for who He really is, we start to see ourselves for who we really are. We start seeing things in our heart and life that really didn't bother us before. That's what happens when we really worship.

Genuine worship always leads to an outward look, a personal response or action, a desire to be obedient to whatever God calls us to do.  Genuine worship allows us to see God for who He really is - His power, greatness, holiness, sovereignty, love, and compassion, and then giving Him what He's worth - the best of our time, talents, thoughts, words and deeds.

Are you a bit overwhelmed? I know I am. Remember, we were created to worship and that takes the pressure off because we do it naturally. now the only thing that needs to change is the focus of that worship. If we begin to purposely look for God in all things, we would begin to realize that all that we are, have or ever want to be is because of everything that God has already done for us.

As I continue to prepare for this opportunity to lead worship I pray that God will become more visibly evident and help us to find new ways through our days to worship Him.