What is Worship?

Worship is a topic that is widely taught on in the modern church. We love the "praise and worship" time in service, but then we're taught that worship isn't a song. We love letting the music invoke our emotions and raising our hands in surrender to our King, but then we're told that worship isn't a feeling.
We're told that worship is a display of our love for God, but it's so much more than that. We're being shown and taught two different things, which causes confusion of worship and it suffers in our day-to-day lives.

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Loving God is a given. Obviously we're going to love the One who gave us breath, however, showing that love and understanding how to show it is something completely different.

So what is worship?
Psalm 34:1-3 says, "I will praise the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. I will boast in the Lord; the humble will hear and be glad. Proclaim Yahweh’s greatness with me; let us exalt His name together." (HCSB)

Our hearts need to sing His praises without ceasing, and our prayer needs to be an ever constant conversation. We are to display God's love to the lost, less fortunate and in situations that try our patience.
Loving and worshiping God is like any other relationship. It needs searching and growing, and will often go through times of testing. If we neglect our relationship with Him, His voice will dim and we'll never grow. Worship of Him is ultimately our searching of His heart.

You might say, "I have open prayer conversation with God, and still, nothing changes. I don't feel any closer to Him."
Secret prayer is also required. God is jealous for us and desires to spend time with us.

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Matthew 6:6 says, "But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (HCSB)

God works best with our full attention and submission. What happens in our secret time can't happen during "praise & worship" at church. 
Secret prayer is when we get our 'ugly cry' on. It's where He completely restores and heals the broken hearted. Where He speaks to temptation and silences it. Where He puts away fears and insecurities. Where He shows you why He IS King.

If you don't have time set aside everyday to spend with Him, you need to do it. Open prayer conversation during the day is great, but distractions will ALWAYS be present during that time. Go into your secret place, shut out the world and spend time with the great I AM.

 One of my favorite versus is:
 Psalm 84:2, "I long and yearn for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God." (HCSB)

Fashion a heart in me that is only Yours, that I might seek and find my God. I want to yearn...I want to search Your passion for me and others. I want to pour out my simple love over You that I might be able to express to You the millions of things I feel for Your Greatness.
I want to be a paint brush in the Artist's hand. I want You to write Your name on my life. Make me Your masterpiece. Give me a greater hunger and a greater passion for the call You have on my life. Your will is perfect, and my heart and flesh do cry out for the living God! You're the Creator and Sustainer, and the only one who understands this flawed heart. Remember me, Lord...I give my all for You.
Amen.

Soil

Much of what we produce in our personal ministries is brought about from where we're planted. Where we decide to plant our roots needs to not be taken lightly. We need to approach the matter with much prayer and follow only the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Ultimately, where we're planted and what we're planted in will be the reason for the success or failure of our ministries.

Different Types of Soils:

1. Content Soil
    -This soil once had a fire and a spark to it, but it's been burnt out for decades. It has an impeccable legacy, but no clear future. People are happy staying in the soil because of the name that is built on top of it. There's no stirring, no moving, just content people sitting in lukewarm soil.

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 2. Abusive Soil
     -This soil doesn't do much, but talk. They like a "good, hard preaching," and they like to judge others for not being as 'Holy' as they are. In their heart-of-hearts they don't feel like they're being judgmental at all. They feel like they've been given marching orders and they're obeying. However, the orders have no vision, no passion and they are left to wander. They are following a man instead of a King.

3. Guilty Soil
    -This soil has taken up residence in your mind rather than your heart. It continually tells you that you're a sinner and you could never possibly do any good for the Kingdom of God. This soil makes you believe the lie that you have to carry your sins, and therefore, paralyzes your ministry and your spiritual growth.

4. Busy Soil
    -This soil knows how to throw a good party, while doing prison ministry, nursing home outreach and service to local homeless shelter. It delivers babies on the weekend and builds sweet old sister Sue a shed in her backyard. This soil is spread too thin and worried too much about disappointing others than they are about pleasing the Lord. Yes, the work is good work, but the motive is in vain. No one can be useful when they have too much to handle.

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5. God-given Soil
    -This soil is unique. No two soils are the same, and if God isn't the one to lead you to this soil, you won't grow. This soil is personalized, fertilized and cultivated for the obedient. This soil is easy and light. Roots are able to be formed immediately and fruit is seen instantaneously.

Crazy things happen when people find 'their Soil'.
If you find yourself in one of the above 'Soil's' that isn't #5, you need to be praying about how God can get you to #5. Look at where you are and how effective you're being. Are your gifts recognized, are they being put to work, are you seeing results...does anyone even know you're in the pew?

My wife and I found our 'Soil' in REACH. Crazy things are happening, and unbelievable fruit is beginning to blossom. Take your step of faith and search out where you'll be able to grow.

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