Repost // The Act of Worship

Lately, I've been listening to the Unhindered worship album a lot.  It's really good, and I highly recommend checking it out if you get a chance.

But it also has me thinking about the act of worship.  And recent conversations with good friends have me asking myself if I've been living my day-to-day as an act of worship.  Last fall, I spent some time being angry at God.  It was the kind of anger where I wanted to be angry, but I knew better, so I couldn't fully enter into the anger.  Does that make me sound crazy?  Probably.  But in the interest of being transparent, I'll just be straightforward and tell you that that's where I was.  I didn't understand why I was going through what I was going through and while I knew God was trying to teach me something, I didn't really care to learn it.

But that's the funny thing about God.  He sticks by you and teaches you whether you like it or not.  Because that's just the type of father that He is.  

Patient, loving, immovable. 

He doesn't give up on you, and when you're ready, He's still there waiting to teach you that same lesson, and to show you that He really does have your best interests at heart.  And in His timing, He delivers on the promises that He's made to you.

And what does he want in return?  He asks that you live a life of worship.  To live each day as an act of worship.  Lately, I've been working on getting back to a place where I can honestly say I'm doing that.  A place where I can look at every aspect of my life and truly say that God is at the center of it.  And I'm getting there.  Slowly, but surely.  

And I'm finding that at times when you most need reminding of what's important, God surrounds you with people who keep you grounded, keep you centered, and keep you looking toward the cross.

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

2 Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; 

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

-Psalm 100, A psalm. For giving grateful praise.