Spiritual Maturity Step 9: Enjoy Worship • DDCommunity

Do You Truly Enjoy Worship?

When we enjoy worship, we respond to everything God has given us, offering Him the honor He deserves—it’s a joyful celebration of who He is.

How happy are those who reside in your house, who praise you continually (Ps. 84:4 CSB).

Every step toward spiritual maturity leads us to recognize God’s rightful place in our lives. Worship acknowledges God for who He is and enhances my relationship with Him. Only God is worthy of worship, and He sets the standards for worship.

Consider This Scene

Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.”
And I heard every created thing which is in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, or on the sea, and all the things in them, saying,
“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever.”
And the four living creatures were saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped. (Rev. 5:11–14 NASB)

Enjoy Worship as a Joyful Celebration!

When I worship, I give to Him in response to everything He has given to me. It is giving God the honor due to His name. Worship is not merely a command to obey or an exercise to complete; rather, it is a joyful celebration that reminds us of the faithful, loving God who guides every aspect of our lives. When I dwell in God’s peace, I can truly enjoy worship.

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters. Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!” (Gal. 4:4–6 NASB)

Is Worship an Action or an Attitude?

When you consider your worship, ask yourself, “What am I returning to The One who is in my God-place?” The question should cause you to pause and think. And then, you may start making your list of actions that you perform: go to church, read my Bible, pray, sing, serve others… But you should also consider, “Is worship an action or an attitude?”

Worship of God = Acts of Worship + Attitude of Worship

Every aspect of my being, every action of my life, and every attitude of my heart should be an act of worship to The One who gives me everything. Lord, please accept my freewill offerings of praise, and teach me your judgments (Ps. 119:108 CSB).

God, you have taught me from my youth, and I still proclaim your wondrous works. Even while I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me, while I proclaim your power to another generation, your strength to all who are to come (Ps. 71:17–18 CSB). My mouth is full of praise and honor to you all day long. Don’t discard me in my old age. As my strength fails, do not abandon me (Ps. 71:8–9 CSB).

Giving Thanks and Praise Is an Act of Worship

Giving thanks and praise is an act of humble worship—I acknowledge God as the provider. Therefore, I will praise you with a harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing to you with a lyre, Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you because you have redeemed me. Therefore, my tongue will proclaim your righteousness all day long (Ps. 71:22–24 CSB).

Unfortunately, we worship other lesser gods by giving them more honor than is due. That is idolatry. “For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life? What can anyone give in exchange for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:36–38 CSB).

Prepare to Enjoy Eternal Worship

Worship guides us on how to live with God both now and eternally. As I worship the Lord here on earth, I prepare for eternal worship! And when I die in the Lord, death begins an eternal life of worship. Imagine this scene:

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth.”
The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke.
Then I said: “Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Armies.” (Isa. 6:1–5 CSB)

When I look at the Lord and all His glory, I realize my efforts are futile. Focusing my attention on the holy Lord, I am awestruck and desire nothing more than to be near Him, be in right standing with Him, and become like Him.

Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased (Heb. 13:15–16 NASB).

More Steps to Spiritual Maturity

Dive deeper into As a Little Child: Conversations with the Father 10 Steps to Spiritual Maturity with these posts:

As a Little Child: Conversations with the Father Cover

Discover the heart of childlike faith! As a Little Child: Conversations with the Father by Melanie D. Lewis is available as an ebook and course through DDCommunity Institute.

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