Heart of Worship

In this season of life, my prayer is that the Lord would develop a heart of worship in me. When things are changing, confusing, fast-paced, or chaotic, it is my tendency to make myself busy with fun or productive things. I don’t let myself sit still and think over everything. I engulf myself with other things so in some way I don’t have to face what I don’t want to. The downfall in this is that this means I don’t sit still to seek to get to know the character of my God and just worship Him for who He is. What a waste of time to do anything else! In all things, I pray that God’s glory would be my delight and my purpose.

We are created to worship. Our hearts seek what grants them joy, peace, love, and satisfaction. We thirst for something greater. Our hearts each have a God-shaped hole. I love reading through David’s praises as he pours out his heart in Psalms. “Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering Yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. He lays the beams of His chambers on the waters; He makes the clouds His chariot; He rides on the wings of the wind;” (Psalm 104:1-3). Our God is so great. He loves unconditionally. He is faithful. He is almighty. He is sovereign. He is intimate. The list of all things that God is and what He has done for us goes on and on. When I let myself be still, I am amazed of His great love for me, someone once broken but now restored and redeemed. When I allow myself to not be overscheduled and overwhelmed, I have time and clarity to see more of who God is and what He has done in my life. “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told” (Habakkuk 1:5). Stop and look what God is doing.

It is so easy when we become overscheduled to give our hearts to idols. When we spend so much time, pour out so much of our hearts, work so hard, etc… we are giving ourselves away sometimes, making good things ultimate things. “The word epithumiai, meaning “inordinate desires,” is very common in the New Testament and has strong links to the idea of idolatry” (Tim Keller). This is such a perfect explanation of idols. They are “inordinate desires”. When we idolize something, we allow our hearts to settle for something less than they were designed for. These are deeply rooted and cannot be removed quickly or easily. Thomas Chalmers explains this in this way, “The only way to dispossess the heart of an old affection is by the explosive power of a new one”. To rid ourselves of lesser desires, our hearts must be overwhelmed and satisfied in Christ. Our hearts are designed to worship and find fulfillment in something greater than ourselves. This is accomplished in Christ.

“You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)