You inhabit the praises of Your people (I)

Worship is much more than singing spiritual songs, and as I write this morning I am in a season where the Lord is taking me deeper into worship, and hence deeper into His heart. And as this paraphrase from Psalm 22:3 indicates, a primary benefit of worship is His presence, His dwelling in our praises. This is not just some nice theological idea, it is intended to be a wonderful, tangible experience of our relationship with Him. Words are too inadequate, and the closest I can get to a description of this experience comes in the line “lost in wonder, love and praise,” from a well-known hymn. I’m not entirely sure where the Lord is taking me in this season, but more and more I never want the worship to end. I am reminded of the twenty four elders who cry out night and day “Worthy is the Lamb” (Revelation 4:8).

I would not be being honest if I were not to say that it has taken me a long time to get to this place. But I don’t think that it needs to! After all the Lord is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4: 23). In this regard Romans 12:1 comes to mind where we are entreated, by the tender mercies of our God, to present ourselves as living sacrifices holy and acceptable to the Lord this is our reasonable, logical spiritual act of worship. In particular in view of all that He has done for us, is doing and will do, the only reasonable response is to give ourselves wholly and completely to Him in moment by moment surrender and obedience. This, Paul tells us, is an act of worship. But it’s not just about behaviour, about obedience, about becoming holy. This is to worship Him in truth, but we are also to worship Him in spirit.

In the verse following John 4:8 above, we read that God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. We cannot worship Him in spirit without a vital, dynamic Spirit to spirit connection with Him. It starts of course, with the new birth (John 3:3-6), and continues by staying connected, and by pressing in. It is intended to touch our emotions, and in fact all that we are. That is why we are commanded to love Him with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength (Mark 12:30). Worship in spirit, and worship in truth are connected. When we continue in His truth (His Word) then we will increasingly know the living Truth (Jesus - John 8:31,31; 14:6). And just as we can suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18), so we can also enhance the truth by living in righteousness. Worshiping in spirit and in truth in this way is part of what it means to draw near to God, and what allows us to claim His promise that He will draw near unto us (James 4:8).

Father, I worship and praise and bless and magnify Your Name again this morning. Thank You Lord that it’s not all up to us, because when we do our part You do yours. And I have the sense this morning Lord, that You are far more desirous of drawing close to us, than we could ever be to You. Our love and devotion are weak, but nevertheless pleasing to You. Thank You that You know our frame, and know that we are but dust. Thank You Lord that there is coming a day when we will be able to worship You in the fullness of what it means to worship You in spirit and in truth. In particular we will know You because we will be like You (1 John 3:2), oh glorious day! I pray these things in Your precious Name Amen