Worshipping in Spirit and Truth

 by Chris Jones

Enter his gates with THANKSGIVING.  Go into his courts with praise.  Give thanks to him and praise his name.  Psalm 100:4

There’s a familiar phrase to many Christians.  It’s a common expression we take from John 4:24.  There we read about John telling a Samaritan woman that one MUST “worship God in spirit and in truth”.  It may be a difficult concept for some to understand, and seems thoroughly disregarded by others.  When I imagine what a true worshipper of God might look like, I think of King David (as most probably do).  If you’re unfamiliar with his story, you can read about him staring here.  It’s a story that chronicles a man whose worship directly touched the heart of God.

In comparison to someone like David, I feel like I live a pretty lackluster life.  Don’t misunderstand me.  I love my life.  I have a great wife.  I’m the father of two awesome little boys who are growing to be special men in God’s Kingdom.  I have a career that I really do love and God continues to breathe fresh life into the dreams He is placing in my heart.  Still, I feel far from what He designed me to be, a perfect instrument of worship.  Honestly, and ironically, it’s worship songs that make me feel this way.  Perhaps it’s more accurate to say that I feel this way in regard to worship songs I wish I could sing from the bottom of my heart.

Have you ever heard this quote from A.W. Tozer, “christians don’t tell lies, they just go to church and sing them”?  I think this is partly true.  How often do we stop and consider the words of the worship songs we sing?  I feel like some of them expose how far I am from being able/willing to fully abandon all of my goals and ambitions, in exchange for all He has for me.  Take, as an example, the words of this popular worship song:

Lord I give you my heart.  I give you my soul.
I love for You alone.
Every breath that I take, every moment I’m awake
Lord, have your way in me

Some weeks, I just don’t feel like that guy.

Worship is serious.  It’s not just a time for us to sing with one another.  It’s another opportunity for us to open our hearts before God.  The last thing I want to be in those moments is false.  Rather than sing something that may not be true of myself, I turn those thoughts into prayers.  “God help me to lay aside my selfish ambitions and learn to live, guided by your plan for my life.  Right now I just don’t feel like I can say that I’m living for You alone.  Holy Spirit help me live a life and be a man through whom You can truly have your way.”  Perhaps I’m splitting hairs.  Admittedly, it seems like such a small difference.  However, I believe it’s a great expression of His worth to us to acknowledge how far we are from His glory and that only he can bridge the distance that separates us.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:10-12  Give thanks today, with a pure and grateful heart.

(note: Re-reading this whole thing, it sounds like a bit of a bummer on what is such a significant day for most of us.  I apologize, if it comes across that way.  I’m curious to hear your thoughts.)