iWorship

Worship is not an issue, it is THE issue.

We all worship. 

Christians and non-Christians.

We all worship.

The old testament talks mostly of external worship, serving the Lord.  

The new testament is directed at internal worship, reverencing the Lord.

Both are ways that we express the love we have toward our Father.  Both are important, necessary for worshiping God.

My husband meets with a great man of the Lord one morning a month. During their time together, my husband is encouraged and uplifted so much. It always shows in his words and demeanor.  One evening, while telling me of their time together, he said he was asked one question:

What are the non-negotiables in your life?

For many months this question has lingered in the back of my mind.

What are the 'things' in my life that are non-negotiable?  The things I cannot go without.  The 'items' that are so vital for my well-being that they simply are not disputable.  

My Savior. 

Every other person, thing, area, desire, hope, love, and on and on, are negotiable.  They can be taken from me, and if they are, I will survive.  Though some 'things' are held much much dearer to my heart, they are still not the very foundation of my being.

Jesus, on the other hand, is!

HE is my non-negotiable.

HE is the one I worship.  

I truly desire for each area of my life to be an outpouring of worship to my Father.  

Sometimes I don't worship the Lord. Many times I don't worship the Lord. 

I worship my spouse.

I worship my kids.

I worship our finances.

I worship myself. 

I worship my schedule.

I worship my expectations.

Worship is the organized center of my life, where I place my thoughts, my time, my affections, my abilities, and my sacrifice.  

The Lord has been awakening my heart to keep my worship in check.  With each thought, I am giving my worship to someone or something.  With each action I am reflecting the one I worship.  

My creator is to be worshiped.

His creation is to be enjoyed.

I pray I will always have a deep conviction when my worship is turned towards Jesus' creation rather than the person of Jesus.  

Mark Driscoll reminded me (in a podcast which I would link, but now I don't even know how I got to it...one click led to another and so on.) that God is not in need of me.  I am not made out of God's lacking, but rather out of his great love.  Because of that, we humbly come to God to receive. As God initiates and we respond, he gains glory and we find joy.  

As Jesus works in my heart, I respond to his workings. I respond to his grace.  In my response he is glorified!  His his glorification my heart and soul find joy!

Jesus be glorified in the response of this heart that is so desperate to know you more.  For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:36