What does it mean to cultivate a heart of worship?
In a time of endless distractions we can easily forget that we are creatures wired for worship.
It is in our nature to worship. So, what would it mean to cultivate something we are already wired to do?
This phrase is most often used in the context of developing a heart that is sensitive toward worshiping God and no other.
To cultivate a heart sensitive to worshiping God we mean to develop a heart that is no longer distracted by false gods and petty human distractions and we become laser focused on the true God of the universe and intimate with Him by drawing near to Him. The ways in which we draw near to God are regularly outlined in this Blog and are foundational to the Christian life. They provide fuel to the fire of our worship of God.
Practical Steps of Worship
Among the many practical steps I am going to outline there is nothing more important than recognizing our need to minimize distraction in order to spend time with someone worthy of our time and attention.
Consider this. I wouldn’t take my wife on a date only to sit a cross from her at dinner mindless of her and on my phone. I’m not going to cultivate much of a relationship doing that. In fact, I’m not cultivating much at all.
Spending time with God means we turn of the distractions and focus our attention on Him. Many people find that removing themselves from the daily rhythms of life helps this tremendously. Go outside. Take out the earbuds. Ask God to meet with you. Begin to pray.
All of these intentional acts tell God you are ready to spend undivided time with Him.
So, when your not distracted. Take the time in prayer and meditation of God’s word. Study His word and ask Him to reveal himself to you.
Develop a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving in these moments. As the scriptures reveal. God provided payment for your sin by the blood of Jesus. Don’t let that pass you by. Reflect on the sheer grace and mercy of a loving God that would provide redemption for His very creation that rejected Him.
Commit to acting in your faith by obedience to the Lord.
In fact, Jesus expressed this act of devotion in John 14:23-24 saying,
‘Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. ‘
John 14:23-24
This is really profound and certainly can impact our worship by acting in obedience.
Worship is a posture of love and devotion. It is not some mindless, emotional, meditative, trance believers find themselves in once a week.
Our worship is fueled by our knowledge of God the Father and then lived out by our obedience to Him.
Cultivating a heart of worship means that we spend time not just in prayer and meditative states listening to the wind, but that we are discovering Him by how He has revealed himself to us through his word and the words of Jesus.
We quite literally express our love and devotion to Jesus by keeping his words.
This will cultivate a heart of worship aimed at Him and no other. Keep him at the center of your worship and you will not go wrong.