My youth pastor said that worship is more than just singing the words; we need to be thinking about the words.
When I sit down every week after we’ve sung a few praise songs in church, my though process is similar to this: Seriously? Did I really just zone out for all of those songs? I just sang four hymns, and they didn’t count for anything? Why can’t I pay attention?
Because I’m busy staring at the cute guy in the pew in front of me.
I’m busy looking at my friend’s bouncy curls and thinking about how I can achieve such beauty.
I’m busy staring at the clock, thinking about the 15 minutes that have passed since I’ve been seated.
I’m thinking about everything except what I’m supposed to be thinking about.
Why can’t I focus? What is my problem?
It’s called Satan (along with the troublesome triplets named me, myself, and I).
Satan wants to distract me from doing the right thing and from being close with my Savior. He can’t destroy my relationship with Christ because nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). But he can distract me and get my attention fixed on something else like Cute Guy or Curly Girl or Ticking Clock. He uses people and things to tempt me and lure my thoughts away from Christ.
But distractions don’t just come from Satan. I distract myself from Christ. Even though I’m a Christian, I still have a sin nature that’s focused on yours truly. Will that boy ever like me? How can I get curly hair? When can I sit down?
Are you noticing a pattern? My sin nature lures me into sin, including self-centered thoughts.
Somehow, my focus can be on my family, friends, phone, and everything else in my life without a problem. But why can’t I focus on Jesus for 90 minutes a week at church?
Because I’m a mess.
My inability to focus isn’t ADHD or another disorder that causes me to lose focus quickly. My inability to focus can’t be treated with medication; it can only be treated with saturation—saturation of the Truth.
If I have a math test to take, I need to prepare for it by studying of equations, asking my teacher questions, and doing practice problems. Likewise, to prepare for worship, I need to read the Bible, pray, and exercise my faith by following His commands.
I can’t expect results right away. It takes weeks to study something and have the information memorized. And we’re not simply memorizing God’s Word. We’re growing closer to God and understanding who He is so that on Sunday mornings, we’ll be able to sing “How Great Thou Art” and actually be able think of the ways that God has been great toward us.
Another thing that I have yet to wrap my mind around is this: God doesn’t love us because we sing hymns and think about the words; He loves us because we’re His.
When we choose to worship God, we’re choosing to honor Him. However, our salvation isn’t dependent on our choice to worship. (It may take me a long time to see the difference between honoring God and trying to make Him love me more, but that’s another topic for another time.)
His love for us is complete, friends. It’s full. It’s finished.
But we please Him by praising Him.
Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. (Psalm 29:2 NKJV)
We need to worship God because He’s done so many amazing things for us! Don’t do it so He will grow in His love for you; do it so you will grow in your love for Him.
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