Spiritual disciplines are vital practices with the purpose of godliness. Often, spiritual discipline is performed without direction. It is crucial for Christian’s to have a deep understanding of the goal and outcome of discipline to become more like Christ. They are both personal and interpersonal biblical acts with an intent. This includes gaining a relation with God in order to grow as a Christian. To claim to be a child of God, holiness is not an option, but a command. By integrating the disciplines into a daily lifestyle, a communion is formed with the Lord, and he becomes a priority. To neglect these practices is to be superficial. When practicing these disciplines, have confidence in salvation, humility before God, and focus on the relationship gained. There are many ways to perform these vital disciplines to expand one’s knowledge and experiences with Him. Worship is a fine model of the liberating effects of the spiritual disciplines.
Worship is a response to God’s beauty and grace. To pursue godliness, worship is a necessity. It provides us the opportunity to engage with Him in our heart and mind. This discipline consists of shifting the focus from the worshipper to instead God (Korch, “Spiritual Discipline of Worship”). It is not granted because of a fit criterion, but evoked in one’s heart. Seeing and learning of His creation will cause a yearning desire to show outmost devotion to Him. It is only right to submit and demonstrate respect. Christian obedience to what He has allowed is fundamental. It is an obligation and privilege to praise the Creator. By doing so, His infinite worth can be truly magnified. Worship is the highest act a man, by His blessing, is capable.
There are other responses of being brought close to God. Holiness is achieved due to showing humility before God. Grace and mercy is expected after displaying appreciation the Lord. His Love is received by His worshipers as they praise him and love him (Mathis, “Benefits of Worship”). After worship, a sense of power swells in the Christian as a sense of awe emboldens the believer. Faithfulness also flourishes when commitment and gratitude is exhibited towards Him (Kennebrew, “True Worship”). When God is worshiped, these are natural, common responses expected. Genuine worship is seeing God for who He really is: a great, awesome, loving, God. When in the presence of God through worship, He will answer.
Worship is spiritual experience with the intention to connect to God. It is an action that demands a response: God desires for an encounter to be made (“Worship”). It is transformational; it emboldens Christians to be more like Jesus. This connection with the Lord is dependent on an individual’s sincerity and trust in the Lord. It is giving all there is to offer to God with no complaints. Serve Him while worshiping and serving others; a true worshipper submits himself as a sacrifice. To have the opportunity to witness His compassion, is a blessing and an honor that should not be ignored. This involves loving Him with heart, soul, and mind (Korch, “Spiritual Discipline of Worship”). Humans were created to be in relation with God. Worship fuels the growing relationship with God and allows a believer to engage with him.
Worship is a public and private responsibility. Corporate worship is necessary for the Christian faith to be nourished with others whom share a kindred faith (Jamieson, “Biblical Theology and Worship”). Surrounded by fellow Christians while praising God forms an intimacy in this community dynamic. Together, the worshippers learn more of God while glorifying Him. This union allows for Christians to strengthen their faith and the church itself. However, there’s something things only god can communicate through individual worship (Korch, “Spiritual Discipline of Worship”). It is not right to worship in face only as a shallow Christian would do so. Christians worship privately so that He can bless them. Every day the strength, guidance, and forgiveness of God awaits. It is a privilege to be expected by the Lord. Worship provides the opportunity to answer that expectation.
In the Old Testament, worship is often commanded. “The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him” (English Standard Version Bible, Exodus 15:2). “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker” (Psalms 95:6). “Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. Rather, worship the LORD your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies” (2 Kings 17:38-39). “O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure” (Isiah 25:1). “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Daniel 4:37). Worship is demanded as evidenced by the Old Testament.
In the New Testament, worship is again instructed. “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1). “And Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve”’ (Luke 4:8). “When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, ‘For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever’” (2 Chronicles 7:3). Worship is expected as seen by the New Testament.
One form of worship is reading the Bible. To truly worship in spirit and truth, knowing who He is detrimental (Woods, “Reading the Bible Aloud”). Scripture is God’s word. It unfolds the law of God and tells Christians how to live their lives for Him. When the scriptures are read, God is speaking to his people. Whether it is in a public service or private setting, it is beneficial to delve into what is occurring. It is easy to nod off to verses that have become all so familiar. However, the Bible should be read expressively, as to ease people’s minds into focus. A beneficial method to develop is studying (Whitney, “Spiritual Disciplines”). Studying may put off people, but it is crucial to fully understand the bible. By meditating, a new word or quote can be analyzed each time it is read (Whitney, “Spiritual Disciplines”). This provides new meaning and a different perspective to interpreting the Bible. The richness in this in-depth studying will provide gratification never experienced before. There are various ways to reading the bible that can best suit one’s personal preference.
Reading the Bible for worship can be specified in several verses throughout the Bible. Written in 1 Timothy 4:13, “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.” In Psalm 56:4, “In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.” In Acts 17:11, it was known, “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” Joshua 1:8 orders, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” To worship God appropriately, bible intake is not only beneficial but a command from the Lord Himself.
Church attendance is another form of worship. (Jamieson, “Biblical Theology and corporate worship”). As stated before, corporate worship is not optional. Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday so it is a special day worth celebrating. At church, the gospel can be remembered and practiced. It provides an opportunity to say “thank you”, “I’m sorry”, and “forgive me”. Christians can ask the Lord to mend their hearts and to provide guidance. The world is filled with people different than what someone might be used to. At church, there are people of different backgrounds. However, there is a common feature: All are sinners who need a savior. The gospel reunites estranged people with the Lord, and allows for love to be spread among the congregation.
Attending church is affirmed in many verses in the Bible. In Matthew 18:20, it states, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Ephesians 4:11-13 asserts, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” In Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and ball the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Jesus himself went to church, as seen in Luke 4:16, “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.” There is no need of more evidence that church attendance is demanded to complete worship.
Corinthians 14:15 states, "I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.” Singing is a command of God for his believers. He is glorified is singing praise (Outlaw, “How to praise and Worship God”) . It provides an opportunity to engage emotionally with the words breathed in the Bible. Hymns demonstrates unity by expressing a mutual passion between people of the same faith. It is a direct connection with God in ways sermons can’t. Singing allows a part of the heart itself to communicate to God different to spoken words. Singing may be perceived as intimate which can intimidate worshipers (“Music in Worship”). However, it is supposed to be intimate because it is. There is gratification in experiencing raw emotion so openly displayed. This builds fellow believers by sharing confessions. The bible’s word can be dwelled upon more easily when psalms are sung as a communal for of worship.
There are several verses in the Bible that calls for singing as a form of worship. In Psalm 147:1, “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.” In 2 Chronicles 29:30, “King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped.” In Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” In Ephesians 5: 19 asserts, “Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” Singing is an appropriate form of worship because God says so in the Bible.
Prayer is undoubtedly the highest form of worship. It plays a critical part of building a relationship with the Lord. It should be God-centered to honor God by directly communicating with him. The priority of prayer is to glorify him and to worship Him. (Korch, “Spiritual Discipline of Worship”). These prayers can remind the worshiper of God’s work with gratitude. A prayer should consist of recounting what God has blessed in one’s life. It is normal to pray for oneself, family, friends, and the Church during prayer, after He has been praised (Whitney, “Spiritual Disciplines”). While praying, sins must also be confessed and forgiveness be asked. Confession is mandatory every session of prayer since human sin so often. All sinners are in need of Grace. It is acceptable to pray publicly as it is often done with Godly leaders of the church leading it. It is also usually Bible-based since scripture is in line with God’s will. This also avoids not knowing what to pray about and boredom. Christians must be disciplined to be properly give grace in service to God.
The Bible lists different ways a worshipper can pray to God. Sitting is appropriate as seen in Acts 2:1-2, “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and hit filled the entire house where they were sitting.” In Psalms 95:6 kneeling is fit, "Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the lord our Maker." Standing can be read in Exodus 33:10, “Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent.” Bowing the body is seen in Nehemiah 8:6, “Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, 'Amen! Amen!' Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.” Bowing the head is demonstrated in 2 Chronicles 29:30, “King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped.” There many different positions and forms prayer can be accomplished.
Historically, worship has always been integrated into daily Christian life. The Early Church in Jerusalem included daily worship, prayer, fellowship, baptism, and breaking of bread. On Sunday, the assembly was open to all the people who wished to be converted. Then, they would partake in the Lords Supper for the baptized. The Lord’s Supper was called “Eucharist” or “giving thanks” by the early Church. (Wright, “Early Church”). It commemorates the death of Christ. This communion signified believers as part of the covenant. The body of Jesus was represented by bread, and his blood by wine. Worship in the second century became more formal. It included gathering Sunday for worship, reading the apostles memoir, prayer, and the Lord’s supper. Worship in the third and fourth century included a two-part service: the first for converts and enquires while the second for those already baptized (Simkins, “Worship Timeline”). The forms of Christian worship changed and developed considerably during the first four centuries of the ancient world.
As one might expect, culture has always influenced worship. America, specifically, tends to have more of a secular culture. The way Christian’s worship has strayed away from a ceremonial practice to more “emotional”. Reading the Bible every day is not as common as it should be. Attending church has also decreased, with many believers claiming worship will be accomplished in private. Singing hymns has become the central, most thought of form of worship. Prayer is often labeled “boring” and repetitive. Also, in today’s society, it is not as about God. Many people will worship with the intention to be blessed with riches beyond financial stability for unnecessary products. Also, worship may be viewed negatively or not talked about enough in today’s culture due to societal pressure. People believe that speaking of God may be offensive or annoying due to the inappropriate responses received by believers of Jesus Christ. However, as a Christian, it is a duty to live life on mission.
Struggle in worship is another prevalent issue. Many will blame time constraints on lack of worship. Worship is not prioritized even though it is clearly commanded in the Bible. Another factor is choosing the path of least resistance. As humans, comfort is seen as a necessity. Often times, a Christian may not know how to worship. A lack of knowledge of the Bible is the most common reason for so. To worship the Lord, it is necessary to understand who He is. If He is a stranger, how well would direct communication be? Another factor is boredom. When the same things are said to God over and over again, feeling detached is unavoidable (Whitney, “Spiritual Disciplines”). There are many different ways discussed on how to worship. To avoid becoming uninterested, switch up ways of worship and find the most suitable. Struggling in worship is normal; not changing to better worship is inexcusable.
Worship may be misunderstood and utilized incorrectly. Worship is not an optional discipline. It is not a one-way communication without no response from the Lord. It is not a method to appraise the worshiper. It is not just a private-only occasion devoted to Him. Neither is it a practice only done in the eyes of the public on Sunday. It is not skimming the bible without absorbing God’s word. Singing during church services is not the only form of worship. It is not a set time reserved for asking for selfish accommodations. It is not for those who need to repent, but all Christians whom are in need of a savior. It will not grant you salvation from only practicing it. It is not a new concept to the Christian lifestyle. Worship is not an effortless practice. Worship is an action requires time and dedication to scripture to praise God and all He has done.
To worship properly and more efficiently there are several tips that can be followed. When worshipping God, it would be best to a pick a fit environment. This may include music, instrumental music, solitude, or in the presence of another worshiper. Turn off electronic to avoid distractions and enhance concentrations to not interrupt the time with God. Try different forms of worship to encourage interest and find preferences. Use a journal Bible when worshipping through Bible reading (Whitney, “Spiritual Disciplines”). Singing during church services with passion and love. Pray through the bible if prayer seems to be boring. Psalms is very effective for this type of prayer. It doesn’t matter the mode of worship. Worshipping God with all your heart and praise Him is the purpose of worship
Worship is a discipline meant to be cultivated with time. The first time one may practice this as a spiritual discipline may not reward you spiritually. It takes time and repetition to fully indulge the rewards and blessings of communicating with the Lord. Worship has no ends (Whitney, “Spiritual Disciplines”). It is a means that is meant to be practiced for the duration of a lifetime. It should not be kept for Sunday only. It is key to worship every day. To become more like Jesus Christ, focus and devotion to him is essential. It’s important to not perceive this command from God as a burden, but a burden lifter. Without the spiritual discipline of worship, life would be inconsistent and meaningless.
Worship is a spiritual response devoted to God and all His glory. When practiced, a relationship forms with Him in the heart, mind, and spirit. It stimulates Christian maturity to become more Christ-like. Is practiced in private to further grow the relationship with God, but it is also done with a community. There are various ways God can be worshiped. Reading the Bible allows a Christian to truly learn who He is, and what He demands. Attending church allows for communal worship on the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Singing is an emotional experience that glorifies the Lord in an intimate way. Prayer is a God-centered practice that encourages a Christian to truly understand how He has blessed the worshiper. It has been integrated into daily life since the time of the early Christians. However, today, it may clash with the American culture and lifestyle. Several believers struggle with worship, whether it be due to lack of knowledge or time. Nevertheless, God demands effort, time, and commitment. To truly become more god-like and mature as a Christian, the daily practice and effort of worshipping God is detrimental.