THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Lord, how should we worship in ways that please you? Sadly, worship time can become predictable and boring. Over time, believers can develop a ho-hum attitude toward worship that leave their souls unfulfilled.

Religions differ in their patterns of worship. Some worshipers mindlessly repeat liturgy from a prepared book in response to a leader’s prompting. Others might participate in sacraments that they may not understand. They don’t know why, it’s just part of the service.

For some, they’re convinced their methods of worship are the only correct ways that please you. Everyone else misses the mark.

We can’t forget, proper worship includes no less than three hymns, then a leader repeats the same prayer he has said for the past thirty years. Afterward, worshipers shake hands to verify everyone is still alive.

Lord, as recorded in John 4, you encountered a lady confused about proper worship. This lady believed God could only be worshiped on Mount Gerizim, while the Jews insisted God must be worshiped in Jerusalem only.

You explained how God the Father desires worship that comes from our hearts and that we worship God in the truth of who he is. Like for many today, her worship had become “mechanical” doing the same mindless routines every service. She simply worshiped the way she was taught.

“Believe me, dear woman,” you tenderly corrected her. “The time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship God on this mountain or in Jerusalem … But God is spirit, and the time is coming—indeed it is here—when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way” (John 4:21–24 NLT).

We want our worship to be exciting, dynamic, and full of your life-giving Spirit. We want our worship to be so contagious it will jump from one person to another.

Lord, help us keep a pure heart. We’re thankful we can worship anywhere. From the magnificent cathedrals with inspiring pipe organs ringing the great anthems to listening to contemporary praise and worship music while stuck in rush hour traffic, may our worship please you. Continue to teach us how to worship you in joyful and exuberant ways from our grateful hearts and in the truth of who you are, our great God.

Amen, Jesus.