We acknowledge that God certainly deserves our praise but sometimes we struggle to make worship a priority in our lives. We have access to much teaching and writing on worship to help us. (See: Worship Resources) Still, we sometimes let hindrances to worship keep us from truly worshiping “in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24). Why don’t we always worship as we should?
List of Hindrances to Worship
A session in The Truth About Worship Discussion Guides looks at the hindrances listed below. It provides some Scripture and questions to reflect on the effect of these hindrances on us worshiping God.
- Self
We can let our own needs, convenience, and preferences come above God Himself.
- Concept of God
A misrepresentation of who God is will cause us to misplace our worship.
- False Gods
Anything we prioritize above God will pull us away from worshiping the one true God.
- Our Culture
When we conform to the world around us we lose sight of God.
- Service
We can get so busy serving that we neglect the God we serve.
- Unreconciled Relationships
Mistreatment or lack of forgiveness in our relationships with others affects our walk with God.
- Traditions
Man-made or self-styled worship rather than that which God desires can keep us from truly worshiping.
- Worship “Props”
When we let forms, styles, facilities, or worship leaders become what worship is about, rather than aid us in worship, they hinder it.
God is so worthy of my complete and undistracted devotion and love expressed through worship! Let’s rise above these hindrances and worship God in spirit and truth.