Welcome! In our journey of faith, it is essential to focus on spiritual disciplines that will help us grow in our relationship with God. This year, we are intentionally looking at practices that go beyond mere habits and rituals, but rather sacred rhythms that create space for God to work miraculously in our lives.
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Memory Verse Challenge: 1 Chronicles 16:29
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
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Spiritual Disciplines – Worship
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
Worship is often thought of as the singing we do on Sundays or the music that fills our hearts with joy and reverence. While this is certainly a part of it, true worship encompasses far more. It is a lifestyle, a spiritual discipline, and an offering of ourselves to God. In the words of A.W. Tozer, “Worship is to feel in the heart and express in some appropriate manner a humbling but delightful sense of admiring awe and astonished wonder and overpowering love in the presence of that most ancient Mystery.”
Worship as a Discipline
Richard Foster, in his classic work Celebration of Discipline, writes, “To worship is to experience Reality, to touch the Life that gives life.” Worship is not only a reaction to God’s presence but also a practice that forms us. As a discipline, it requires intentionality. We do not stumble into worship; we pursue it. We cultivate a heart that delights in the Lord through regular, habitual turning of our attention and affection toward Him.
Romans 12:1 exhorts us, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” This kind of worship is not confined to a sanctuary or a moment of song; it is a holistic offering—mind, body, and soul—laid at God’s feet daily.
Worship in Spirit and Truth
Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well that “true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). What does this mean? To worship in spirit is to worship with our whole being—animated by the Holy Spirit, not out of ritual or compulsion, but from the depths of our renewed hearts. To worship in truth is to worship God as He truly is, as revealed in Scripture and in the person of Jesus Christ.
Worship that is rooted in truth resists the temptation to reduce God to our preferences. It invites us to adore Him for His holiness, justice, mercy, and love—even when His ways surpass our understanding (Isaiah 55:8-9). It is in this sacred tension that awe is born.
The Heart of Worship
In Psalm 95:6-7 we read, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our maker! For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” Worship begins with God and ends with God. It is both the acknowledgment of His worthiness and the transformation of our hearts as we respond to that worth.
Worship draws us into deeper intimacy with God. It recalibrates our spiritual compass. When we’re distracted, anxious, or weary, worship centers us again on who God is and who we are in Him.
Practicing Worship Daily
Here are some practical ways to cultivate worship as a spiritual discipline:
- Begin with Scripture – Let God’s Word shape your understanding of who He is. The book of Psalms is a treasure trove of worship language (Psalm 103, 145, 150).
- Sing and Declare His Praise – Whether alone or with others, lift your voice. Music has a unique way of uniting heart and mind in worship.
- Practice Gratitude – Thank God daily for His goodness and faithfulness. Gratitude naturally flows into adoration.
- Create Worshipful Rhythms – Set aside time not only for prayer and study but for silence, awe, and reflection on God’s majesty.
- Live Worshipfully – Remember, worship is a lifestyle. As you work, parent, serve, or study, do all things as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24).
A Closing Prayer
Lord, teach us to be worshipers in spirit and truth. May our hearts be captivated by Your glory, and may our lives reflect the holiness of Your presence. Let worship not be confined to moments but woven into the fabric of our days. Draw us nearer to You, that we may know You more and love You deeper. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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I pray that you will continue to be conscious of God’s presence throughout the month as you journal His Word and that you will sense His presence in every area of your life.
You can download the Journaling Scripture Plan here:
https://charitymaeprosper.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SD-Worship-CMD.pdf
References:
- Bible Verses: John 4:23–24, Romans 12:1, Psalm 95:6–7, Colossians 3:23–24, Isaiah 55:8–9
- Books:
- Life Application Study Bible: King James Version. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 2004. Print
- Matthew Henry’s Commentary of the Whole Bible: Matthew Henry, 1662-1714 (1991)
- Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
- The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
- The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
