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!

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

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

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.

If you aren’t suffering for Jesus, are your remembering those who are?  You can start by:

1)  Increasing your awareness of what is happening around the world to fellow believers

Click here for books and Internet resources on persecuted believers.

Follow one or more of these organizations on Twitter or Facebook to keep up with what is happening.

2)  Praying for them

From there God may take you into further involvement.

If you are suffering for Jesus, even if it seems insignificant in comparison to others, here are some promises or realities to grab hold of:

    You are an overcomer because He is.  Have hope in Him.  (Jn. 16:33)
    You are secure in His love.  Hold on to it.  (Rom. 8:35)
    You are considered blessed.  Be at peace.   (Matt. 5:10-11) 
    You will be rewarded because of it.  Hang in there.  (Matt. 5:11-12)
    You will be restored.  Stand firm.  (1 Pet. 5:8-10)

With these realities comes a sense of purpose in suffering for Him, knowing that we will be okay no matter what happens which then results in:

> an ability to take heart (Jn. 16:33) and rejoice and be glad even in persecution (Matt. 5:12).

> a sense of security (Rom. 8:35-36) which in turn enables us to look beyond ourselves and care about the one who is persecuting us (Matt. 5:44-45; Rom. 12:14).

2 Cor. 5:7 – Walking by faith enables you to think big, to step outside of the box and take risks.

Gal. 5:16-26 – Walking in the Spirit helps you keep in step with God rather than operating out of the flesh and yields the kind of heart qualities that will help you maintain the right kind of attitudes, determination, and relational integrity needed in ministry.

Eph. 4:1-7 – Walking worthy of the calling you received leads to the kind of humility and oneness needed in ministry as you realize grace levels the plain.

Eph. 5:1-2; 2 Jn. 1:6 – Walking in love exemplifies a sacrificial spirit as seen in our Lord Jesus, making you willing to go beyond simply what is “expected” of you.

1 Jn. 1:5-2:2 – Walking in His light generates a life of integrity and authenticity that people look for in Christian leaders, teachers, and ministry workers.

1 Jn. 2:3-6 – Walking as Jesus walked provides a pattern and a standard to follow.

3 Jn. 1:3-4; Ps. 86:11 – Walking in truth keeps you faithful to Him and not pulled in every direction, feeling the need to please people or follow the latest fad.

Resources to Help You in Your Walk:

Walk the Walk and Other Devotionals Published by Ministry Tools Resource Center

List of Books & Internet Resources on Various Aspects of Your Walk

Article:  At the Core of Serving

In a previous blog post I observed how Matthew 5:14 says that we are the light of the world – present tense, a matter of fact … it’s who we are as children of God.   “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Live as children of light (for the fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases God” (Eph. 5:8-10).

In taking a stand and living for Him in this world with all its liberal and immoral agendas, the goal is not to make ourselves the issue and debate one’s point of view, but to point them to the True Light by reflecting Him in all we do … His goodness, righteousness, and truth. 

Light has many benefits.  It is when we put a bowl or basket over the light that it loses its effect.  We cover the light when . . .

* we are ashamed or too cowardly to speak up for Him  (Light boldly penetrates into the darkness.)

* we feel the need to be politically correct or tolerant rather than reflect Him  (Light stands in stark contrast to the darkness.)

* we fail to acknowledge sin in our own lives and in the world around us  (Light exposes darkness.)

* we present truth without grace (Light has a warming effect, not just one of piercing the darkness.)

Being a light in a dark world is not always easy.  We will not always be understood or accepted but don’t lose heart.  Jesus, the True Light of the World, was not recognized for who He was and what He had to offer the world (Jn. 1:4-10).  He ultimately was put to death on a cross but “for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition, so you will not grow weary  and lose heart” (Heb. 12:2-3).

Read more about being the light of the world.