by Jim Meyer

I believe we live in the most amazing time in history. Today we can talk via computer with people on the other side of the world and instantaneously see and hear their expressions. It’s truly amazing. Every day reveals greater technological advancements. The spectacular has almost become commonplace.

Yet, the most astonishing thing we can experience has been available long before the internet, computers, or even electricity. We have been given the privilege of entering into the presence of the Creator of the universe to experience a personal relationship with Him.

God created humanity in His image with a soul and spirit. Therefore, I can call out to Him with the expectation that He hears me. Across the galaxies, He recognizes my voice and knows my name. Yet, in the same moment, He’s right here with me! That’s overwhelming for me to comprehend. In fact, it’s awe inspiring. Pondering God’s greatness causes me to bow my head and worship Him.

God is worthy to be worshiped.
Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. — Psalm 95:6

For me, worshiping God begins with redirecting my focus off of the concerns in my life and turning toward Him. Believing that God knows me and has an incredible plan for my life puts me in a posture of trusting Him. I bow my heart to His will. I know He is the only one who ultimately is in control.

No one else in the universe is like God. He is all-wise and all-powerful. He alone is holy and good. His heart is pure, and His motivation is driven entirely by love. He is just and true, and His judgment is to be feared. God alone is worthy of worship.

Sometimes it’s a sacrifice to worship God when the demands of life clamor for my attention. That’s when I need to recall God’s faithfulness in my life. That’s when I need to remember His generous mercy and incredible grace. It’s then that I become acutely aware of how small I am compared to His amazing plans and surpassing greatness.

Worshiping God is a humbling experience.
We only learn to behave ourselves in the presence of God. — C. S. Lewis

I find that worshiping God forces me to become honest with myself. In light of God’s holiness, I see my shady shame. I know there is nothing I can do to hide from Him. He knows my thoughts from afar. By being in His presence, I expose myself and become transparent so He can search my heart.

I worship God by who I am and who I become.
God is to be praised with the voice, and the heart should go therewith in holy exultation. – Charles H. Spurgeon

I’ve come to realize that my worship of God should ultimately be modeled in my lifestyle. I start by verbally professing my reverence for God. When my worship is genuine, I find it is reflected in the choices that I make.

I revere God in my heart because of His great love, and I’m grateful for His goodness. Therefore, I desire to honor Him by choosing to be teachable, obedient, and willing to serve others. I desire to bring glory to His name through who I am and what I do.

Worshiping God transforms my life.
Worship changes the worshiper into the image of the One worshiped. — Jack Hayford

I worship God because He is the only one who has the power to lead me into His best plan for my life. God knows all things. He exists from everlasting to everlasting. He already knows who I will be tomorrow. He knows all my weaknesses, and yet He loves me. He desires to refine me so that I can rise to the full potential of who He created me to be. The more I realize His love for me, the more I am willing and desire to be changed.

We can give to God something only we can offer.
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. – John 4:23-24

All of creation testifies of God’s incredible greatness. The stars move like clockwork within the orbits He established. Night always becomes day. Trees blossom each spring, and animals hibernate each winter. Daily the oceans ebb and flow. The fact that all of creation consistently follows the order that God established reveals His unfathomable wisdom, His creative power, and His authority.

And yet we have the ability to bless the Creator when we choose to walk in obedience and worship Him with our lives. As we willfully humble our hearts and worship Him as He designed us to do, we offer God a gift that He deeply longs for – an intimate relationship with us.

Our goal as missionaries should be not only the salvation of mankind in a fallen world, but to raise up worshipers throughout our mission field who worship God in spirit and truth.

Week 3: Reflections

1. Spend some time alone or with your spouse and recall all of the specific blessings that God has poured into your life. Worship Him for His goodness in your life.
2. Stand outside one night and gaze at the stars. Imagine standing before God’s throne and worship God for His incredible greatness.
3. Read Isaiah 6. What was Isaiah’s response to God’s awesome presence? What areas in your life should be touched by the burning coal?

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