We acknowledge that God certainly is deserving of praise but sometimes we struggle to make worship a priority or reality in our lives.  We have access to much teaching and writing on worship, plenty of worship resources, to help us.  Yet, we still at times fail to worship “in spirit and in truth” as Jesus said of true worshipers in John 4:24.

Why don’t we always worship as we should? 

The Truth About Worship Discussion Guide looks at some possible hindrances which I will list here:
 

1. Self - my own needs, conveniences, time, advantage, blessing, etc. come above God
2. Concept of God – either physical or mental misrepresentation of God
3. False Gods – anything that would pull you away from worshiping the one true God
4. Our Culture – the influence of the world around us
5. Service – being so busy ministering that we neglect God
6. Irreconciled Relationships – relationships where there is mistreatment or lack of forgiveness
7. Traditions – self-styled worship rather than God’s method
8. Worship “Props” – those forms, styles, facilities, or people which aid us in worship

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want these hindrances to block me from truly worshiping.  God is so worthy of my complete and undistracted devotion and love expressed through worship!

Do you want life to be meaningful (having a standard of truth to live by but still a sense of freedom)?  Do you want life with a mooring (being tied to something secure but still able to move)?  Do you need some motivation (living life under compulsion but still with purpose)?  Do you want a model to live by (being able to see the potential but still living each moment to the fullest)?

If so, then you need a walk with God characterized by the following:

          Wisdom
          Awareness
          Love
          Kenosis

WISDOM:  We can know all about God and His Word, but if we don’t see the practical implications of this knowledge to our everyday living, we are going to struggle.  — Wisdom is what will make your walk with God practical and relevant to every day life  . . . a walk that gives meaning to life.

Ps. 86:11 – Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

Ps. 119:45 – I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. 

AWARENESS:  We need to be aware of who God is and constantly acknowledge His presence in our lives.  We need an awareness of how God works on our behalf and that He will not leave us or forsake us as we walk with Him. — Awareness of His presence is what will give you hope, comfort, peace, and confidence even in the most difficult circumstances  . . . a walk that gives you a mooring in life.

Ps. 89:15 – Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.

Ps. 23:4 – Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

LOVE:  Jesus emphasized how love is the greatest commandment.  1 Corinthians 13 reminds us how we can do great things, but without love, it means nothing.  1 John 4:19 adds that we too can live a life of love and compassion for others because He first loved us.  — Love is the compelling factor in the Christian life, making us willing to go the extra mile, even when it is not convenient or comfortable  . . . a walk that is motivating.

Eph. 5:2 – And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (KJV)

KENOSIS:  This word is used in theological circles to describe how Jesus temporarily laid aside His glory in heaven and humbled Himself to come to earth for us as a servant.  Philippians 2:5-11 suggests that this process was as much an attitude as it was an action.  — Kenosis is our example of servanthood, what it means to walk in the footsteps of Jesus  . . . a walk that is modeled.

Phil. 2:5-7  -  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

1 Jn. 2:6 – Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Click links below for more on your walk with God:

What makes the Christian walk such a struggle for some?

Walking in Wisdom Makes Sense 

Your Walk with God: An Integral Part of Your Ministry Profile

Devotional Guides on Walking the Walk

Other Resources to Help in Your Walk with God

I wrote an article on the MinTools.com site called Difficulty Praying? – Why We Don’t Pray that looks at reasons for difficulty in praying and also suggests what we can and can’t do if we are going to become more consistent, wholehearted, and alert in it.  In this post I would like to look at reasons why we do pray and suggest a reason better than others.

First, however, we need to realize that what we often give as reasons we fail in prayer are not always the bottom line.  They are more symptoms or excuses.  Symptoms of difficulty in praying include but are not limited to:

easily distracted  ~  tired  ~  don’t know what to say ~
angry with God  ~  too busy

The above mentioned article suggests what might be at the root of those symptoms.  To counteract these issues we need to work on the following three reasons to pray:  Commands, Commitment, Communion

Commands:  Praying is a matter of obedience.
Commitment:  Praying is a matter of an undivided heart.
Communion:  Praying is a matter of relationship.

If you are out of fellowship with God, it is easier to disobey commands.  Duty alone might not keep you praying.  And, if you do pray out of obligation, that is not going to solve the problem of focus.

If you are a new believer, you are learning to be more committed.  If you are a long-time believer, you still haven’t arrived and if you think you have, your pride can get in the way of praying.  Devotion alone might make you want to pray and might get you on the right track to a better prayer life but won’t necessary bring life and energy into it. 

If you maintain that first love referenced in Revelation 2:4, your communion with God provides continued motivation.  Delight in the One to whom you pray, provides a passion to pray that supersedes all other reasons to pray.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  This is the first and greatest commandment. (Matt. 22:37-38)

If you love me, you will obey what I command. (Jn. 14:15)

When you pray because you delight in the Lord, duty and devotion are there but they are not your main focus.  HE is.  When praying is about relationship, you want communion with God.

For more on prayer, click on the following links:

Difficulty Praying? – Why We Don’t Pray

How Can We Not Pray?

Prayer Ministry – Online Training

Prayer Ministry Manual

Prayer Bits Devotional Guide

More Resources on Prayer

So often we think we must achieve a balance of grace and truth in the Christian life  — just enough truth, just enough grace.  Or perhaps we feel there are times for grace but other times when primarily truth is what is needed.  Most of us would acknowledge that we shouldn’t be at one extreme or the other in many areas.  We look for balance.  Being at extremes has gotten many a church leadership in trouble as they dealt with issues in the Body.

But, if we look at Jesus’ life, we see that when it comes to grace and truth, it isn’t a matter of balance.  He was 100% grace and 100% truth.  He did not lay aside the one to become the other.

Jn. 1:14 – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jn. 1:17 – For the law was given by Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

As He walked on this earth, and even now, Jesus administered grace while speaking truth.  We too are exhorted to be “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).  Notice that it doesn’t say “Show some love and then hit them with the truth.”  Nor does it say “Speak the truth and follow it up with some love.”  Both love (grace) and truth are to be present at the same time.

Jesus brought this perspective of grace AND truth into worship in John 4 when the Samaritan woman identified two different styles of worship, questioning which way was acceptable.

Samaritan Method of Worship: In John 4:22 Jesus said of the Samaritans, “You worship what you do not know.” They were limited in knowledge, accepting only the Pentateuch of the Old Testament. Their worship was enthusiastic but they lacked the proper knowledge. — “zeal without knowledge”

Jewish Method of Worship: They accepted the entire Old Testament and hence did not lack knowledge but their hearts weren’t in it. In Mark 7:6 Jesus used Isaiah’s words to describe them, “These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.” — “knowledge without zeal”

Jesus responded, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth”  (Jn. 4:23-24).

Both zeal AND knowledge are what the Father seeks.  He is looking for life and truth, enthusiasm and sound doctrine . . . grace AND truth.  This applies to how we deal with others.  It applies to worship of our God.  The whole of our lives should be filled with both grace and truth if we are going to be Christ-like.