wor⋅ship
–noun
1.reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred.
2.formal or ceremonious rendering of such honor and homage: They attended worship this morning.
3.adoring reverence or regard: excessive worship of business success.
4.the object of adoring reverence or regard.
5.(initial capital letter
) British. a title of honor used in addressing or mentioning certain magistrates and others of high rank or station (usually prec. by Your, His, or Her).
Here's another word Study for you. What do you think of when you hear the word Worship? When I think of worship, the idea of complete submission to God comes to mind.
I started reading a book last night entitled "To Busy Not to Pray" by Bill Hybels. I haven't read very far, but what I have read really makes sense. In the first chapter he writes about how praying to go goes against all that is human. As human beings we try so hard to "go it alone" and not put our trust in God to allow His power to flow through us. However, when we submit to His amazing power and let it flow through us, the world takes on a different shade. I believe there is a HUGE connection between the two; that is worship and prayer. The idea that a complete submission is involved in both. Like prayer, in order to worship fully we have to push our flesh aside and really allow the spirit to work within us. In order to make the connection with God we MUST die to ourselves and live in and with Christ.
A few months ago, I had a vision while I was worshiping at Life Church in Bryan, TX. It was just a normal Sunday (or so I thought). The idea of waking up early for church on Sunday has never really excited me, and this day wasn't any different (Even if church didn't start until 10:30). I strolled in at my usual time at 10:35 and made my way to my seat next to my friends who were already in the middle of worship. I remember feeling as though I was out of place and I wasn't feeling all that great about it. But I proceeded to file my way in to the middle seat. As the band played a few good songs, I remember thinking to myself: 'I want to try something different." At that moment I started to pray that God give me peace and let me just enjoy the music and worship Him at the same time. To this day, I honestly cannot tell you the name of the song that we were singing, and honestly I don't think it matters. I remember seeing a flash of light and hearing thunder almost immediately afterward. (For those of you who know me, I LOVE THUNDERSTORMS). Then it started to rain. I remember feeling wet as if I were standing in the middle of a torrential downpour in the middle of the sanctuary. And then I heard the music. All at once the sound was concentrated in one direction and so loud and pronounced I was sure people could hear us next door in the H.E.B. I remember feeling like my body was straining as if I were so excited to be where I was. This feeling was so intense I remember starting to cry. God was truly there in that place with me.
When it was over, I remember thinking: "Lets do that again!" The interesting part of that thought is, I truly believe that I will get to do that again. That was the closest view of heaven I think I have ever had and it was phenomenal. God's power and grace all wrapped in one thunderstorm of praise. HALLELUJAH!
So when you think of worship, I hope and pray to God that you get to experience what I have experienced. I hope it means more to you than just a definition and that you are truly blessed by your experience. I know that I will never forget mine.
In Christ!
B-ROG
) British. a title of honor used in addressing or mentioning certain magistrates and others of high rank or station (usually prec. by Your, His, or Her).Here's another word Study for you. What do you think of when you hear the word Worship? When I think of worship, the idea of complete submission to God comes to mind.
I started reading a book last night entitled "To Busy Not to Pray" by Bill Hybels. I haven't read very far, but what I have read really makes sense. In the first chapter he writes about how praying to go goes against all that is human. As human beings we try so hard to "go it alone" and not put our trust in God to allow His power to flow through us. However, when we submit to His amazing power and let it flow through us, the world takes on a different shade. I believe there is a HUGE connection between the two; that is worship and prayer. The idea that a complete submission is involved in both. Like prayer, in order to worship fully we have to push our flesh aside and really allow the spirit to work within us. In order to make the connection with God we MUST die to ourselves and live in and with Christ.
A few months ago, I had a vision while I was worshiping at Life Church in Bryan, TX. It was just a normal Sunday (or so I thought). The idea of waking up early for church on Sunday has never really excited me, and this day wasn't any different (Even if church didn't start until 10:30). I strolled in at my usual time at 10:35 and made my way to my seat next to my friends who were already in the middle of worship. I remember feeling as though I was out of place and I wasn't feeling all that great about it. But I proceeded to file my way in to the middle seat. As the band played a few good songs, I remember thinking to myself: 'I want to try something different." At that moment I started to pray that God give me peace and let me just enjoy the music and worship Him at the same time. To this day, I honestly cannot tell you the name of the song that we were singing, and honestly I don't think it matters. I remember seeing a flash of light and hearing thunder almost immediately afterward. (For those of you who know me, I LOVE THUNDERSTORMS). Then it started to rain. I remember feeling wet as if I were standing in the middle of a torrential downpour in the middle of the sanctuary. And then I heard the music. All at once the sound was concentrated in one direction and so loud and pronounced I was sure people could hear us next door in the H.E.B. I remember feeling like my body was straining as if I were so excited to be where I was. This feeling was so intense I remember starting to cry. God was truly there in that place with me.
When it was over, I remember thinking: "Lets do that again!" The interesting part of that thought is, I truly believe that I will get to do that again. That was the closest view of heaven I think I have ever had and it was phenomenal. God's power and grace all wrapped in one thunderstorm of praise. HALLELUJAH!
So when you think of worship, I hope and pray to God that you get to experience what I have experienced. I hope it means more to you than just a definition and that you are truly blessed by your experience. I know that I will never forget mine.
In Christ!
B-ROG
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