A PIECE OF MY HEART....icing on the cake

WORSHIP - What does it mean to you?

I use to think it was pretty cut and dry. Worship was a time in the service at church that we sang praises to Him. Worship time at church can be alot of things...it can be done thru singing, praising and clapping your hands. We can praise Him with our prayers and even with our giving. All of these aspects of a "worship service" are acts of worship unto Him.

These are all fundamental truths about worship, but what good is worship without emotions? It is truly difficult to worship the Creator of everything and not become overwhelmed with the significance of Who God is!

Worship is so much more than just singing songs. It is becoming more aware of how wonderful He is and how unworthy I am. Putting the focus more on Him and less on me gives me such a deeper hunger for His presence. This hunger is not just a Sunday morning treat any longer, I need to worship Him more than just on Sunday.

I desire to worship Him on Monday as well. And on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday! When I seek to worship Him with my entire being, each and every day, it becomes more than just something I do. It becomes an attitude of my heart. It becomes natural. It becomes part of me. It becomes more than I ever could imagine!

Having a heart of worship daily, now makes coming to church on Sunday to worship seem like just the icing on the cake!

Acts 16:25 "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. (26) And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.”

Paul and Silas knew what the icing on the cake was. They had an attitude of praise that lifted them high above their troubles and right into God's presence and power. Through their praise and worship, their hearts were lifted. The Bible says that God inhabits in the praises of His people. (Psalms 22:3) He dwells in the atmosphere of His praise. Praise is not merely a reaction to coming into the presence of the Lord, but praise is the gateway which allows us to enter His presence.

It doesn't take a prison cell or a Sunday morning worship leader to bring us into worship. It takes a willing heart and a desire to be nearer to Him.

PSALMS 100:4 "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise."

and this has been a piece of my heart today;