Devotional: The Heart and Hands of Worship

"To worship is less about displaying an observable expression and more about possessing an inward disposition." -Anthony Tolliver

I’ve been a Christian for most of my life, but when I went to church I was not the guy who would raise his hands during the worship music. I thought that was just not who I was and some people are just more expressive than others. That outlook changed when I was educated on what it actually meant to worship God, mainly to praise him, and why God wants us to do it is a certain way.

Different Christian denominations express their spiritual act of worship a little differently, be it charismatically or more reserved. Some tend to be a little more rigid while others a little more relaxed, but as long as the heart and purpose behind how and who we worship aligns with scripture, then it will be right.

Jesus said that we are to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37). Paul said for us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship (Romans 12:1).

Paul was echoing the command from Jesus to offer everything that makes us up. This is our physical, spiritual, and psychological self, our whole self. Integrating those three together, we are to worship God so that each are in balance. An easy example of this might look like us cognitively (psychological) raising our hands (physical) during a worship song while seeking to draw closer and connect to God (spiritual). That is a bit more simplistic than it actually is, and there is much more to this, but I wanted to provide a simple example to get you tracking in the right direction.

All around our country and world we may experience varied forms of worshiping God that can be traditional, contemporary, progressive, and even extreme. This may be demonstrated and practiced differently by numerous people groups. We can express ourselves how we are feeling led in those moments, and what is carried by certain traditions we practice, but there are also specific commands God gives us in scripture how he wants us to worship him. Are we doing it "right"?

There are many ways, but let’s explore one which is specifically how we praise him.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND

There are actually 7 Hebrew words for “Praise”. The word “Yadah” means: to revere or worship with extended hands.

One of the verses in the Bible that uses the word "Yadah" is Psalm 67:3.

"Let the peoples praise (yahah) you, O God; let all the peoples praise (yadah) you!"

This is a command from God in how He wants us to worship Him by lifting our hands when we praise him. So, if you have not yet done this during your worship, next time you are and hear or see the word “praise” in the song, extend your hands out of obedience. When you are praying and praising God for who he is, lift your hands while you are doing it. When you do this, see the difference of how you are blessed by God in that moment.

LIVING WORSHIP

Beyond worship in song, God wants us to continually worship him through everything in our life. It begins with the attitude and position of our heart. How we relate, respond, and interact with people, and the world around us, ought to reflect this. It’s easy to say that we love the Lord with all of our heart, but how are we actually demonstrating that?

Moreover, if what we do in worship is not outwardly demonstrative, are we worshiping him fully and fully giving him our whole self deep within who we truly are?

"Worship: Where God isn’t moved by the quality of our voice but by the condition of our hearts." -Chris Tomlin

Does he have complete access? That is our ultimate spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1).

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Psalms 150:6 ESV

PRAYER

Lord thank you for who you are and for the opportunity I have to worship you for who you are. Thank you for helping me be expressive during my worship in AND out of church. I don’t want to just be a Sunday Christian pew sitter, but so much more. Help me to live my life in worship of you and demonstrate that in whatever I do, from the inside out. Help me to live my life as a pleasing and holy sacrifice to you Lord. In Jesus name Amen!

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