I decided to read something that I don’t normally just go to and that was the book of Malachi, only four chapters long but full of so many interesting things. In chapter one I saw how much God loves us, and how sad he is at some of our half-hearted worship! Chapter 1 Verses 7-10 describes how he feels, verse 10 struck me: Why doesn’t one of you just shut the Temple doors and lock them? Then none of you can get in and play at religion with this silly, empty-headed worship. I am not pleased. The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is not pleased. And I don’t want anymore of this so-called worship! I thought that would have been a good place for “Selah”, stop and think on these things. When I was the choir director we had a lot of practices but I would always say, “Yes I want you to learn your part and the words so you can ‘show yourself approved’ unto God, but when you get here for a church service and start to sing, I don’t want you to be THINKING about whether you are right or wrong, I just want you to WORSHIP.” We need to worship God in the beauty of His Holiness. Now neither you nor I can control what happens in a church service as far as what is being sung, but we can control what is in our heart and mind. I see people just looking around, looking at what the people on stage are wearing and just generally observing. You can fault me for noticing because that puts me in the same category, doesn’t it? What I am saying is that we need to “come into the house” with thanksgiving and “into His courts” with praise, being thankful unto Him!
Let’s leave church and go home to worship. The TV or radio is blaring in your ear and if God spoke to you, you would be hard pressed to hear Him. Where is your Bible when you are praying, and do you bring your “list” of wants and needs with you? God already knows what you need, so just take time to worship, talk, and communicate with Him.
Jesus gave us the perfect formula for prayer in Matthew chapter 6: Our Father which is in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory for ever,Amen
I hope God never has to say of me that I have offered Him “empty-headed” worship. Think about offering yourself as that living sacrifice when you walk into a service and at least have an attitude of worship around you, it is contagious. When you worship at home, try to make the atmosphere conducive to the presence of the Lord, you will find your worship experience very much more rewarding!
Harolene.com 