Worshiping God: More Than Music and Church
What does worshiping God look like in our daily life? How can we worship the Lord with our life?
Because we often limit worship to church services.
We went to worship this morning. Join us Sunday for worship.
Or worship becomes about music intended to lead us into God’s presence. These are both good, good things.
Gathering with the family of God for corporate worship is biblical and powerful. And anointed music that speaks directly to our hearts, carrying us before God’s throne room in awe? It helps our soul and points us to the Holy One.
But do we realize the Almighty is worthy of our daily worship?
Are we faithful to give Him praise and thanksgiving every day, not just on Sundays and special holidays?
Do we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, an act of spiritual worship? (Romans 12:1).
Because it’s easy to allow the world and the enemy to distract us from worship in our daily lives. Instead, our hearts worship our desires and ways, and what the world has to offer.
We may give our life as worship to people, things, self-worship, fame or fortune.
So let’s look at some ways to worship God in daily life.
Worshiping God: the Creator
All of creation shows us how to worship the Creator. It’s simply recognizing the beauty surrounding us.
Every time we gaze at a sunset, see a glimmer of light shining through the window, stand in awe at the twinkling of stars or the ebb and flow of the ocean, and admire the autumn foliage, let it remind us, all of creation worships our glorious God.
Worship the Creator, not His created beings.
Worship Through Holiness
“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.” Psalm 24:3-4 (ESV)
The imagery here both makes my soul leap and causes me to pause. David knew what it meant to stand in God’s presence. And he knew how sin separated him from God.
The Lord created our souls to desire the ascent up His hill and to stand in His holy place. But it requires we submit to the Lord’s holiness in our lives and allow Him to cleanse us from sin.
Clean hands and a pure heart is surrendering to God’s Word and asking Him to cleanse us from sin. This is worship. This is worshiping God with our life.
Clean hands and a pure heart is surrendering to God’s Word and asking Him to cleanse us from sin. This is worship. This is worshiping God with our life. Click To TweetWorship the Lord’s holiness and offer Him thanksgiving and praise for making us holy.
Worshiping God by Seeking Him
“He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah” Psalm 24:5-6 (ESV)
The Bible encourages us to seek the Lord’s kingdom and righteousness in Matthew 6:33. To pray, seek God’s face, and turn from wicked ways for forgiveness of sin and healing of our land here on earth in 2 Chronicles 7:14.
And Hebrews 11:6 tells us God rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
What we seek, we worship. What we worship, we seek.
- Am I seeking to please people or God? (Galatians 1:10)
- Do I seek things or seek God’s face about how I spend the resources He gives me?
- Do I seek my own kingdom or God’s Kingdom in my life?
- Am I seeking notoriety, position, beauty, knowledge or fortune? Or, am I seeking the God seated on His holy throne, spiritual riches, treasure in heaven and wisdom from above?
Daily Worship
We worship every day with our life.
I listen to worship music Sunday through Saturday. Also, I pray daily offering worship to the Lord for who He is and thanksgiving for what He has done. I strive to make it a daily habit to read the Bible and devotionals.
And I desire to walk in the Spirit, repenting of sin, and seeking God’s face—a spiritual act of worship.
But remember, it’s about the heart and not a checklist. Yes, we will have days we fail to worship God with our lips, heart, and life. But we ask the Lord to help us.
So, you see, worship is not only singing at church, but also a daily surrender to the Lord.
Worship is not only singing at church, but also a daily surrender to the Lord. It's walking in the Spirit, repenting of sin, seeking God's face—a spiritual act of worship. Click To Tweet
How do you worship God daily in your life?
Also see: A Call for Believers to Pray in 6 Ways
Featured photos from our YouTube Channel, Friday’s Forever.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Recharge Wednesday/Let’s Have Coffee/Tune in Thursday/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth) and Faith On Fire.
© 2021 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
Check out Friday’s Forever podcast where we discuss this adventure (photos) and worship.
Amen. Worshipping God involves all our words and actions, not just a church service or Bible study meeting. We have the ability to show God’s love and glory to others in every moment.
oh, yes, Melissa. I pray we seek God’s face and others see Him in us!
My what an important, and truth-filled, message Ms. Karen. While corporate worship and fellowship among fellow believers is important to growing in our faith, true worship (for me) is that constant line of communication and relationship I share with God throughout my day. As I’m thanking Him for His provision while feeding the cattle He has blessed me with. When my pal Bubba lays his head on my lap and sighs as we’re heading back to the shop after doing chores. My silent praise as I walk to the kitchen to pour another cup of coffee and I glance to see my wife, the greatest gift from God beyond my salvation, as she is pouring over God’s Word and business writing in her journal. Oh, how I praise God for His faithful delivery of her into the family of God. I prayed for nearly 15 years for that. All of these little moments in my day give me cause for worship with my Creator, my Savior, my Lord, and my King. God’s blessings for warming my heart and giving me cause to worship Him even more this morning sweet friend.
J.D., there’s no one who expresses daily moments in their live and relates them to the Lord, quite like you. From Bubba to your wife and salvation to God bringing you a family to love you. This. Is. Worship. This is a worshipful and thankful heart. May we see all the little moments in our lives and days to spur us to worship the Creator with lips, heart, and life.
Oops… should have been “busily writing in her journal” in my comment above. Silly autocorrect! 🙂
Karen, we so need to remember we were meant to worship each and every day. Psalm 24:3-4 was something I heard my Grampa quote quite often. I might even say it must have been his favorite portion of Scripture. He instilled in me a desire to come clean before God quickly. Worship – “it’s not a checklist. Its a daily surrender to the Lord.” I pray I will always seek to do so every day. Blessings!
Your Grampa was a wise and godly man, Joanne. I pray to never have a checklist with God, but that daily surrender in heart and life. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful generational moment.
Worship, for me, is a daily practice, Karen. He is not contained withing the walls of a church, but is everywhere at all times and He deserves all of our worship and praise.
Blessings!
Martha, the Lord cannot be contained in a building or otherwise. I dare say worship is more about what happens outside the walls of a church building.
Everything about our faith and relationship with God must be a lifestyle. It is not just for Sunday’s or with church gatherings. I love your message Karen. Worship should and must happen 23/7/365. Well done Karen. Thanks for the encouragement
That’s a good point, Yvonne. Worship is happening every hour and every minute.
More time for praise and worship is probably a necessity for most of us. We get so busy with our lives, and even if we have a set time to study the Word, to bask in the Holy Spirit’s conviction and teaching, and to worship the Lord for all he has done and for who he is, still, we often forget to continue to worship the Lord throughout the day. Hearts that are continually aware of his nearness and his holiness instill praise and worship.
Amen to this, Melinda, “we often forget to continue to worship the Lord throughout the day. Hearts that are continually aware of his nearness and his holiness instill praise and worship.” Lord, help us worship you with all. Create in us a heart of worship, that is drawn to your throne room, your Word, and to you during our day!
Love this!
I’m participating in a Bible study of the book of Psalms now that’s subtitled Discovering Authentic Worship. The chapters are titled Celebrate … Worship, Intimacy, Hope, Security, Repentance, Forgiveness, etc. The point is, as you described so well, worship goes far beyond singing in church on Sunday mornings!
Ava, that sounds like such a powerful Bible study. And the Psalms are a great place to land to describe worship beyond singing in church. Thanks for sharing!
This is such an important point. We’re too prone to relegate worship to Sundays, when we should worship daily. Scripture and music are my biggest aids to worship.
Barbara, and I love how Scripture proclaims worship, not only with our lips, but with our heart and lives! Worship must be in spirit and truth!
I so enjoy worshipping the Lord each day! I enjoy listening to worship music or the Bible audiobook when I get ready in the morning, while driving in the car, while cooking in the kitchen, when preparing for bed in the evening. As you said, Karen, we can “worship God with our lips, heart, and through a life of daily surrender to the Lord.”
Worship is a way of life. Not necessarily something we go and do but rather the way we live every minute to honour God.
Thanks so much for this timely post!
Hey Jan, I like how you said worship is a way of life. I pray we live to honor God with every breath and moment.
Good one Karen. Our breath, our thoughts, our words,our work ,our daily walk – all are part of our worship of our Creator. Let’s abide in Him
Agree! It’s all about Him, for Him, and to Him. God bless.
I love what you said about how worship is a daily surrender to God. I believe this completely. Whatever we do that gives ourselves over in surrender to God is an act of worship.
“Whatever we do that gives ourselves over in surrender to God is an act of worship.” So true, Jessica! Thanks for sharing! Blessings!
Thanks for the great reminders that worship isn’t just on Sunday and not just in church. It’s a daily, even moment by moment, activity. Great post!
Thank you, Nancy. I pray we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, an act of spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1)
I’m so glad I found your blog! I had initially found your all’s YouTube channel earlier this year by searching for some activities to do with our kiddos. Just this week, some of your videos popped up in my YouTube suggested videos and the one where you share about your hometown caught my eye. I’m from BSG (class of ’02) and I now live in the Tricities area. I came to know the Lord as my Lord and Savior in 2004. I have enjoyed catching up on some other personal videos of you and your husband and wanted to stop by and say, hi! I can’t wait to enjoy your blog!
Wow, Laura, this is great! I’m so excited you found us and it sounds like we have a lot in common, we both lived in BSG and the Tri-cities. How cool is that! And your name sounds familiar from our YouTube channel. Perhaps you have commented there before. So glad you stopped by to share with me part of your story and when you came to know Christ! God bless!
I love watching the leaves change colors and the roar of the ocean, flowers blooming and a beautiful full moon. Nature never fails to make me think of God’s power, faithfulness, abundance, and love. Wonderful article, Karen!
Hey Ashley, I love all those wonderous works of God’s hands, too. “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Revelation 4:11 (ESV)