(This is consecration and fast week for Vision Intercessors at AIGL. Below is a post I sent out today and thought I’d add it to my blog)
Worship is more than a musical experience. Worship is more than a deep engaging prayer encounter. While all this is good and could satisfy our relationship with God for a lifetime, the reality about worship is that it is similar to an onion… It has many layers!
I believe a more practical definition of worship is; Worship is doing anything in search of a deeper relationship and understanding of something or someone you deem valuable. Worship is the deepest love, respect, godly fear, submission and adoration of something or someone you wholeheartedly trust and believe in. Worship is to make something or someone LORD of your life (intentionally or unintentionally).
To say we worship our Heavenly Father (through Jesus Christ) is to say we have a relationship with him…on his terms, and he is our LORD. Therefore, worship might look a little like this!
Worship is PRAYER (petitioning God). Worship is JOURNALING (holding a discussion with God) Worship is MUSICAL (a romantic encounter with God). Worship is RESEARCH (searching out anything pertaining to God). Worship is STUDY (pursuing the complexities of God). Worship is MEDITATING (exploring the quietness of God). Worship is DANCING (celebrating God). Worship are THOUGHTS (that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy). Worship is HELPING (expressing the compassion of God). Worship is FELLOWSHIP (with the people of God). Worship is FORGIVING (displaying the mercy of God). Worship is PEACE and PEACEMAKING (reflecting the presence and nature of God). Worship is ORDER (maintaining alignment with God). Worship is LOVE (it pursues the fruits of God). Worship is LIBERTY (it will not control or confine). Worship is GIVING (of one’s self, time and treasures). Worship is HOLY (it is set a part). Worship is WARFARE (exercising God’s authority in heavenly places).
You see, Worship is more than the religious things we do or say. REAL worship “Transforms” us and the world we touch. Worship is constant and it takes on many different forms, and expressions; all seeking after God with all your heart with, all your soul, and with all your mind and strength.
Luke 10:27 NIV
He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
In a nutshell, worship is a LIFESTYLE that is passionate for God…Relentless and Resilient.
Encouraging you today, during this season of consecration, to commit to worship God but this time with greater awareness and understanding of the many layers where he may be found.
Scripture References:
Phil.4:6, Jer.30:2, Ps.104:33, Prov.25:2, Joshua 1:8, 2Tim. 2:15, Ps.149:3, Phil.4:8, Heb.13:16, Mark 11:25, 2Thess.3:16, 1Corn. 14:40, 2Corn. 3:17, Act 20:35, 1Peter 1:16, 2Corn. 10:4
Karen Gaithers-Life Discipleship 