What True Worship Does
Theme of the Week: Give God Glory
Eugene Peterson
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: Not to us, O LORD, but to you goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness (Psalm 115:1). Bonus Reading: Psalm 89:8-18
Failure to worship consigns us to a life of spasms and jerks, at the mercy of every advertisement, every seduction. Without worship we live manipulated lives. We move in either frightened panic, alarmed by specters, or deluded lethargy, soothed by placebos. If there's no center, there's no circumference. People who don't worship are swept into a vast restlessness, epidemic in the world, with no steady direction and no sustaining purpose.
True worship centers our attention. We begin to see Him—not our own ego—as the center of everything. We start thinking solely in reference to God and His agenda.
It gathers people together. As we worship, we become part of a family. It's an inclusive, not exclusive, activity.
It reveals truth. Familiar patterns of life suddenly expand to become new vistas of experience. We're uplifted and renewed in mind and spirit.
It makes us sing. We can't hold it back. Worshiping Christians are always singing. Indeed, Christians can sing even when others weep.
It affirms. We respond to God's great promises with a resounding "Amen," with thousands of voices united in saying "Yes!" to God.
—Eugene Peterson in Reversed Thunder
My Response: How has worship moved me beyond my personal agenda?
Thought to Apply: The life that is too busy for worship is busier than God intended it to be. While work exhausts, worship renews.—STUART HOLDEN (British pastor)
Adapted from Reversed Thunder (Harper & Row, 1988) by permission.
Copyright © 2005 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
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You are entitled to praise from all Your creatures, O God.
Free me up and energize me to do my part.
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