How do we prepare for worship?
As Annette concluded her sermon series looking at “The Land Between” last week this is a question that has stuck with me.
The Israelites learnt some very valuable lessons as the meandered through the desert and as we explored some of their journey I am left wondering are we actually learning anything? Especially in this day and age.
After-all Ecclesiastes 1:9 says that “there is nothing new under the sun”, yet all too often we tend to make the same old mistakes that earlier generations, previous societies and many cultures have made throughout the eons of time – time after time.
An example of this can be found in how we view worship. How do we prepare for worship? Do we prepare ourselves to worship? Or are we expecting to be filled with something as we worship?
How we answer those questions can in turn manifest itself into a mindset that unless I get such and such out of worship then I haven’t really experienced worship.
Have we lost the general idea of what worship actually is amongst the busy-ness of life?
I was reading in my devotions the other morning that the sabbath – the day that we set aside to worship God – “is not primarily about me or how it benefits me, it is about God and how God forms me” writes Eugene Peterson.
“It is not, in the first place, about what I do or don’t do; it is about God completing and resting and blessing and sanctifying. It means stopping and being quiet long enough to see, open-eyed with wonder.”
I’m thankful that I was able to visit Zealandia the other day, which is an ecosanctuary not far from the heart of the city. Here in Wellington, here in New Zealand we are truly blessed to be living in a place that has such places for us to slow down.
The thing is understanding what worship truly is, is a lesson that the Israelites learnt along the way.
They learnt that worship is not about them, it is not about what they want, or even how they feel it is about God.
It is about bringing our whole self to Him so that we can realign our lives and get a true perspective of who we are.
Recognising that through our life’s journey, with its highs and lows, with its good times and bad times, with its challenging moments and the many opportunities that we face, that no matter what we are facing God IS with us, and working through us, to impact His world for the better.
So, as we gather in worship this weekend, or even during the week, may the following words adapted from a song that has been permeating in my mind over the past week or so, be a prayer that is true for each and every one of us;
Lord, the worship we bring is more than the songs that we sing, or the notes that we play. It is a reflection of our ever-changing lives, the best that we can offer to You. For You lord are the focus of our worship.
We don’t just lift our hands Lord, we lift up our voices and our hearts, our very lives to You. For we know that You are worthy of our praise, to You Lord our life songs raise.
We have been rescued from darkness, and we are walking in Your marvellous light, for we are Your children.
You are worthy of our honour and praise. All Glory, praise and power is Yours.
So may our lives reflect who You are, may we leave all the stuff that frustrates us and causes angst in our lives at the door, may we check our motives for why we come to worship and truly just worship You for who You are.
May You help us each show loving kindness to all those that we come in contact with, and may we truly learn from the mistakes, of so many that have gone before us, what it means to love as You have loved us.
For these are values that you would have us live out in our lives so that others would be drawn to You. For it is for Your kingdom that we live, it is for You that we come to worship and it is to You that we return to and have to give an account for all that we have done.
The expression of God’s love, the grace of God, the Word of God have all been revealed to us so that we can love the Father, the Spirit, and the Son – and those around us.
So, today especially help us each live fully and in turn worship solely, for You! For you alone are worthy of all our praise.
Amen.
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