Worship
by Jill Southern
This verse makes me wonder how we get to be true worshippers. I believe that as we hunger for more intimacy with God, His Spirit beckons us to come closer and then we can really start worshipping Him. We need to remove ourselves from centre stage and put God in His rightful place. We must focus on giving Him the honour that He deserves.
I sometimes picture believers, in every time zone around the world, who are praising our eternal God. I think the Kingdom of God must need more people who are first worshippers, rather than workers. If workers don’t focus on Jesus as their reason for working and don’t find their reward in Him, they will become disgruntled. They won’t feel that their contribution is sufficiently appreciated. But those who have worshipping hearts become sacrificial servants in their work.
Psalm 103 tells us not to forget all God’s benefits. We can think of past answers to prayers, our present provision and joys, and all there is of God that we have yet to experience. But in the light of who He is, our worship can never be big enoughand our passion can never be intense enough.
Charles Spurgeon said: ‘The Lord always deserves to be praised for who He is Himself, for His works of creation and providence, for His goodness towards His creatures and especially for the tremendous act of redemption and all the marvellous blessings flowing there-from’. He says, ‘Learn to practice the eternal Hallelujah’.
God is here with us - He is hereforus. When we still our hearts before Him He will sing over us, because worship is relationship (‘The LORD, your God, is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.’ Zephaniah 3:17). Our love relationship with God flows both ways, from us to God and from God to us. But we can never praise God enough. Even when we get to heaven and it will be our whole focus for eternity, how can we ever praise Him enough?
Prayer: Father, I want to worship You. You are ‘the living God’. Teach me to become the kind of worshipper that You seek - one who worships You in spirit and in truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jill Southern is the founder of Ellel Ministries Pierrepont and directed the work for 21 years. She has recently stood down from that role but still teaches on the NETS programme and has the passion to train and equip God`s people to fully walk in their destiny and calling. She is the Regional Director for Ellel Ministries International in South East Asia and China and is also on the Executive Leadership of the ministry.
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