The Results of Genuine Worship Part 2

James 4:

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [ESV]

We Delight In God

Hebrews 12

28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. [ESV]

As a believer you offer worship to God to show your gratitude for saving you. Acceptable worship takes into account that your worship is to be with reverence. God is Holy and you are to remember all worship is due to Him alone.

Psalm 92

1 It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, 2 to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, [NIV 1984]

Psalm 92 is about worship and you should read the entire Psalm but looking at the first two verses helps put the reason for worship in perspective and gives the object for being delighted in worshiping God. The Psalm says “It is good to praise the Lord” look to worship as a delight and a pure joy. As you worship God in spirit your worship becomes the opposite of formal and traditional worship for your worship must have heart and thought. In John 3:6, Jesus connects our spirit and God’s spirit for Christ says you must be born of the Spirit and when you have the Holy Spirit living within you then you are truly able to worship the Father.

For Thought:

1.     Is it your desire to delight in your worship as well as have God delight in accepting your worship?

2.     As you worship God in the spirit and not the flesh, you will find yourself hunting for times to worship as you seek God and delight in your worship.

As your flesh nature battles with the spirit living in you, there may be times when you don’t feel like worshiping. Don’t go through the motions as one who does not believe, but first prepare your heart by focusing on God. Delight deep within your spirit. Doing so will bring you such joy. Remember worship is not of the mind but from the heart. When you remember who God is and how much He loves you and recall Jesus giving His shed blood just for you, then you can’t help but separate the flesh nature and worship God as you should. It is then you will be satisfied in your worship to God. It is then you will find delight in your worship.

Before you pray take a moment to meditate on the word of God. Think of God’s promise to you, of His love for you. Then as you speak from your heart, listen to God speak into your heart. Find the pure joy of worshiping God. Praise His Holy name. Worship the Father as He deserves and you will delight in that worship.

 Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. [ESV]

“Worship must be vital and real in the heart, and worship must rest on a true perception of God”. (John Piper)