Prayer and Worship

Both prayer and worship are faith ventures. It takes faith to seek God's face in prayer when we are tired of trying, and discouraged. It requires an absolute faith on our part to offer worship to God in times of uncertainty. Faith is believing something we cannot see. But habitual prayer and worship in the life of the believer sharpens our spiritual focus. Habitual, or lifestyle worship, does not mean we will be immune from trouble or pain. But it does mean we can have peace in what can feel like the worst of times.

Neither prayer nor worship should be done for human approval. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for offering such empty, self-indulgent prayers (Luke 18:11-12). God is not impressed with our eloquent language in prayer. All He wants is a sincere heart that desires to draw close to Him. So it is in our worship. Sometimes God just wants us to spend time at His feet. I can tell you that during times when I felt mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted, God showed Himself faithful as I just sat at His feet to find rest. As I entered into times of worship, He spoke peace to my heart. And I wasn't always sitting in church during these times of fellowship; sometimes I was alone at home, or in my car. I have even been at my job when the Holy Spirit rose up in my darkened state, and brought a divine light and settlement to my spirit.

I want to challenge someone today to include times of worship in your prayer life. Rather than always being in petition-mode, why not shift your prayer direction from petition to worship? As God honors the petitioner, so He honors the worshiper.