Good morning. I pray that this will be a wonderful day of worship and praise for you. For that to be true, you, and all of us who will lift up our praise and worship to our Almighty and Wonderful God, will need to possess the proper attitude in His presence.
The proper attitude of worship could include many things, but I believe that the most significant is the spirit of humility. Consider these words from 1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
God cares for us. He is mighty, and He calls us to humble ourselves before Him. Not because He is a controlling God that wants us to bow down to Him because we are nothing, but rather because He wants to exalt us and to care for us. As we humble ourselves, that is when we are able to truly worship Him. In humility, we trust Him with what’s going on in our lives, believing He is the provider who loves and cares for us.
The spirit of humility is often misunderstood in the world around us. Often, it is even considered a sign of weakness, but that is far from true. Is it a sign of strength to refuse help and attempt to accomplish what is required all by ourselves? No, that is a sign of misplaced ego and pride. Rather, it is a sign of strength to humbly admit our limitations and gratefully accept the help that is offered.
Jesus puts it this way: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
When we apply these words to our desire to worship, we are recognizing that to worship well we need spiritual help. We are tired and worn but our gentle and humble Savior invites us to join with Him, making our worship personal as well as powerfully effective.
Humility is the key to any successful experience in worship. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, the primary Hebrew and Greek words for worship can be translated humility. Without humility it is impossible to truly worship. Humility means to lower yourself and submit yourself to the will of another. So, when we worship, we gladly are submitting to the person and power of the Holy Spirit, and allowing Him to act, walk, and speak in and through us. The Spirit of God connects with our spirit and allows us to communicate with the Father unhindered (Romans 8:26-27).
When we personally or collectively insist on remaining in control as we approach worship and engage in worship, we have missed the entire point of the endeavor. Worship is, by its very definition, an act of submission before God. Worship is all about hearts, minds, and spirits that are bowed in humble adoration of our God, who is not only all powerful but is also genuinely delightful.
Someone who is arrogant and over confident cannot or will not recognize and acknowledge how much they need God’s help and intervention. Neither will they worship Him in Spirit and in truth. We cannot be a know-it-all as we enter into the presence of God, because to do so will only prove that we are a fool. It takes humility to reverently fear God; it takes humility to worship Him and Him alone.
Sin is the enemy’s tool to separate us from God, even as we attempt to worship Him. The humble person understands that sin is not something to be trifled with. They recognize its power to separate them from God and so they are wise enough to keep their distance, and to be humble enough to run to God for His strength to overcome sin. The fear of the Lord is a deep, reverential sense of our accountability to Him! The fear of the Lord is the reality of a humble heart before Him.
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; tremble before and reverently fear Him, all the earth. Psalm 96:9
With humble hearts we bow before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. With humble hearts we worship Him in spirit and in truth. May we never find that our own will is dividing and distracting us, keeping us from His glory!
Vern