Joining with others to worship the Creator can be very enjoyable. I once stood in a choir of over 500 in Brooklyn. It was an experience that I won’t soon forget. Tears were pouring out of my eyes and it’s a safe bet that my trembling voice did not add anything to the thunderous sound. It reminded me of the future scene that is found in Revelation 15 when a great crowd will worship Almighty God with the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb.
I once worshiped the Creator with tens of thousands of men in a football stadium, and I stood with over 100,000 people as we worshiped God in a downtown park of Bogota, Colombia.
Whether it’s a rousing hymn by Fanny Crosby or an inspiring song by Jared Anderson, Chris Tomlin, or Reuben Morgan, we look forward to those moments that we sing, raise our hands, and shout “Amen”, “Hallelujah” and “Praise God”.
The writer to the Hebrews encouraged a group of persecuted Christians with these words. “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24, 25)
Public worship can be a wonderful springboard into a week of challenges. It lifts the hearts of those in trouble and it reminds us all to keep our focus on our wonderful Lord who is our help, our guide, and who is like no other. Public worship is something to look forward to each week, but worship is also private.
In the privacy of our lives, where God knows us like no one else, worship is equally as important. Yes, as a believer, we will privately pray and study scripture, but worship is also a vital part of our intimacy with the Creator. Like public worship, we can sing, dance, raise our hands, or just speak worship to God. This is what a lifestyle of worship looks like.
Earlier I mentioned the times that I was with many people for times of worship, but there are many examples of incredible times of worship that happened when the only person with me was God himself.
I will never forget driving on Noland Road in Independence, Missouri. I was worshiping God and his presence was so wonderful that I had to pull off and stop because tears were flowing. It was amazing. In “prayer closets”, on trains, in planes, while walking in a forest, early in morning, and late at night, we can spend time just worshiping the one and only God.
God is worthy of worship when we are with others who worship or when we are by ourselves.
The Psalmist called out; “Come let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God.” (Psalm 95:6) And for those alone times, David said, “O God you are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1) Later in the same chapter he says, “when I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches for You have been my help and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.” (Psalm 63:6, 7)
When did you last worship God in private? We appreciate your Comments