The Ultimate Act of Worship

The last time I went to the Grand Canyon, I got out of the car, looked over the Rim and the liquid worship began to flow from my eyes. I was so overwhelmed by God’s handiwork – his masterpiece – that I was immediately drawn into worship. However, a few years later, I had one of those moment. I don’t live on the Rim of the Grand Canyon. So, as I was cleaning up after my dog in the backyard, I began a journey in finding worship in my heart not in my surroundings, not only in song, not only on Sunday… I had to choose to make my heart a sanctuary and my focus, my Ho’Omana, on God.

I love to be creative – decorating, working in the yard, sanding wood and seeing the intricate and unique prints within the grain. I love to sing and play the harp. I am definitely not a musician, but I really enjoy making a joyful noise unto the Lord, and a Harp almost can’t sound bad. When I use the gifts and talents He equipped me with I am reflecting Amago Dei – The Image of God.  He is creative, and He made me in his image to also be creative. 

How do you worship? When do you worship?

When a choir director assigns music to the choir, he or she be sad if the members only sang those songs when the choir was together. Or the musician only played the instrument when they were with the orchestra. It takes practice to perfect the song. We are His choir, His orchestra. He wants us to be practicing the “song”, the “mele” with every Aloha – every breath. 

What do you do that would change if you could do it with an attitude of worship? 

Instead of scrubbing the toilet, we could be polishing the throne. Instead of yelling at the stupid drivers on the road, we could pray for them. Instead of wallowing in our frustration, we can lay that burden at the feet of Jesus. 

What prevents you from worshipping?

Could it be our Expectation: what if we woke up every morning and thought “Wow, I can’t wait to see what amazing things God is going to do today?” Or Show me Lord how I can worship and serve you today?” 

I was visiting with a friend recently. She was conveying a spirit of unrest and told me she just wanted to know her purpose, what is she supposed to be doing with her life. I could not give her specific direction; However, I was able to encourage her that every day she should wake up and say ok, Lord what do you have for me today, how can I bring you honor, how can I serve, how can I worship? Sometimes we must come to the complete end of ourselves and our own resources and strength to see that our only peace comes through an absolute focus on God. 

What if we woke up in the morning with a song in our hearts?

“In The Morning When I Rise Give me Jesus”

“I Stand in Awe of You”

“Praise the King, Praise the King”

We should expect our hearts to be moved and changed and our prayers to be answered!

We must put our immediate focus on God. We must take our focus off what lies ahead: work, kids, trouble, challenges, or even fun stuff and put our eyes on Him. Remember Peter… he probably was not worshipping very well as the water was inching up his legs, encroaching on his little late night wild water walk. He was falling because he was failing to keep his eyes on Jesus.

But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death. Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me. Psalms 141:8-9 NIV

Where is your focus?

 Is your daily life bogging you down in your walk with God? Scripture gives us a multitude of examples of praising under arduous circumstances. 

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NLT)

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
    and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
    and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
    and the cattle barns are empty,
¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
    I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

Is there something buried deep in your soul that you need to reconcile with God or someone else? 

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13

 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.¹⁵ Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Hebrews 12:14-15

What is your response when one more thing goes wrong? 

Job 1:20-21 Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and WORSHIPPED God. He said, naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord 

How can you change your response?

It can be as simple as turning off the TV – we can hear God better that way. – In quietness and confidence is my strength. Is 30:15

It could be we need to change our reading habits.

Maybe it is sharing with someone in need. If you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me.

Sharing the gospel… living the gospel.

Maybe it is as earthshaking as giving up your dream of ____________ a new car, a career, a perfect family. Romans 12:1 Present your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your true and proper worship.

Whatever it is we must put our own selfish desires and dreams aside and let God make us into who he wants us to be so that we are a reflection of Him.

Do you need to change your focus from your circumstances to giving your full attention to God? 

Because we have these promises dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit and let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. 2 Corinthians 7:1

What do you need to “surrender?”

          * Worry about my children

         * TV or reading habits

         * Career

         * A relationship

Write down in your journal or Bible as a reminder to daily surrender these things. Are you willing to give that burden to Jesus? Are you willing to refrain from taking it back out of His hands? I encourage you to unburden your heart so that you can worship, worship in Spirit and in Truth.

Growing up, I never really listened to the words of the song I Surrender All.  The song was usually an alter call, just another song we sang at the end of the service. I did not realize that surrender was my ultimate act of worship. Read through the words of this song and worship with me in surrendering it ALL to Him, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Friend.

I Surrender All by Judson W. Van DeVenter (Public Domain)

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

Refrain:
I surrender all,
I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow;
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame;
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!