The Power of Worship

We have often written about the Biblical emphasis on worship. God desires it. And He requires it.

Recently, I came across a meme posted on facebook by my friend and preaching colleague, Steve Wolfgang, that offers an important perspective.

I like that. A lot.

While the ultimate purpose of worship is to praise God, exalt His name, and acknowledge His awesome power, daily presence, Divine personality, and purpose for our lives found in Jesus Christ, there are many personal serendipitous advantages to worship.

This meme speaks to one of these benefits and blessings when we worship and join other worshipers.

How often have you heard someone say, for whatever the reason, “I really didn’t feel like going to worship today, but I went anyway.” Upon leaving, they exclaim “I feel better now than when I came”?

True worship takes the focus off of ourselves. Our problems. Our complaints. Our grievances. When I join an assembly of other worshipers, I am quickly reminded that worship is not about me. Yet, in worship my spirit is raised and ennobled as I experience God’s presence and feel the joy of worship.

David spoke regarding the joy of going to worship when he wrote, “I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord” (Ps 122:1).

How can we not experience a joyful feeling when we obey Jesus’ command to “worship God in spirit and in truth”? Worship demands both the heart and head. It engages our intellect as well as our emotions.

When worship becomes a rote, ritualistic, and routine experience something is wrong. And the first place to examine is our own heart. It is possible to go to a place where God is worshiped and not worship.

For worship to be a joy, I must see it as essential to my spiritual well being. Critical to my relationship with God. And indispensable to my Christian walk.

When worship is approached with the proper attitude, it seems that our problems….well…seem less of a problem. We see Him who is able to supply our every need. We’re reminded that the Creator hears our cry, feels our pain, knows our every need, and will answer our prayers.

In Psalm 73, Asaph saw the prosperity, power and popularity of the wicked. He was envious. He admitted, “I almost stumbled.” Doubts began to creep in. He struggled.

However, Asaph did something in the midst of his struggle we should all do in moments of doubt, discouragement, or despair. He looked at his heart. His attitude. His feelings. And his doubts. He thought about the consequences of abandoning his faith and of undermining the faith of others, especially younger believers. The more he pondered the problem the greater it pained him.

This exercise, led Asaph to see the bigger picture. To give him a clearer view. To change his perspective. But when did this occur? When he “went into the sanctuary of God” (73:17). Worship and his relationship with God improved his viewpoint.

Through the years we’ve seen folks struggle with doubt or some disaster, and in their discouragement forsake worship, neglect Bible study, and abandon prayer. That’s a huge mistake. More than ever you need to come into the presence of God. To seek His counsel. To open your heart to His guidance. And to consider your problems from a Divine and eternal context.

You need to tap into and experience the power of worship.

Life is tough. And sometimes it gets tougher. More than ever, it is then time to take our problems to the ultimate problem solver.

–Ken Weliever, The Pracherman