In the past weeks, we have gone over how God is the one true focus of worship and how that should happen inside and outside of the church. Over the next two weeks, we will be thinking about worship in two aspects: worship in response and worship in anticipation. We cannot be only reactive or only proactive, I believe both must be present for a healthy worship life.

Celebrate God

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,” Psalm 103:1-2

There are sadly many incorrect views of God. One of which views Him as an old man in the sky that sits back and waits for people to call on Him when they need something. This view is damaging in many ways, but the main danger is the temptation to only reach out to God in hard times. Do not hesitate to bring your joy to God just as much as you bring your needs. Do not let needs be the only thing to drive you to the throne room of God. Go no matter the circumstances and just bring what you have, whether that be praise in the easy or trusting worship in the hard. In every season, celebrate God. He is the giver of everything good; do not misplace that worship to anyone or anything else. From the little blessings sprinkled about in life, to the great gift of salvation, God has given countless reasons to respond in worship.

Trust God

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:17-18

Worshiping God may seem natural in both easy times and hard times, but worshiping in the confusing times is just as, if not more, important. Worshiping when you do not know the full plan shows great faith. It is human instinct to celebrate in the good times and lean on someone or something in the hard times, but to worship God in the confusion requires a deep faith in God. That faith allows you to worship because God is good and has a plan and not just because life is easy. Most of life is not lived in the good or the bad, it is mostly in the waiting and confusion. Do not wait for confusion to settle to worship God, worship Him through it. Even during seasons of confusion, there are many things to worship God for. The pain of confusion does not discount all the gifts God has given and the promises He has kept. Do not let your momentary confusion stand between you and praising the One who has carried you to this point.

Cling to God

“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21b

Worshiping in the hard is a good sign of true worship. If you can worship in the hardest circumstances of life, then the easy and confusing times will seem much easier. Not only is it a good evidence of faith, but it also builds it up. Worshiping in the midst of trial and pain helps you cling to the promises of God. It focuses your eyes not on the hardships, but the goodness of God. Learn to look for reasons to worship God rather than reasons to stop, especially in the times when it’s the hardest. There are unique gifts of worship in the hard times. The trials often push us closer to God, and that can bring a special sense of intimacy into worship. It can also bring more clarity into worship. When you offer up your life to God in worship, God may take it and shine more light on it all. Finally, worship in hardships can help reorder everything. Too often the wrong things rise in priority. Worship in the hard times can refocus everything and fix the priorities of life.