The Soul that Worships God

When the fragrance of true spiritual worship pierces the presence of God, there is an unusual, unrehearsed response of worship from our spirit. The consuming fire of the Holy Spirit affirms that an encounter between our soul and the Spirit of the Lord God Almighty is happening! There will never be words adequate to express or define the encounter—but you will know. This unique encounter with the Holy Spirit is beyond words but unmistakable.

When we place God at the center of our faith, He naturally becomes the center of our worship. Complete dependency on God in every area of life glorifies Him, and the sacrificial aroma of "dying to self" is translated as genuine praise towards Him! When God is the center of our faith, He will also be the center of our worship. True worship happens when God reveals and establishes His truth in us; it becomes the substance of our worship and pleases Him (Hebrews 11:6).

God designed us to be exclusive in our love and worship of Him (Exodus 20:3). Unfortunately, not all aspects of what we call "worship" today please God. It must break His heart when our hearts reveal an empty shell of worship, and we hide behind "fig leaves" of mere feel-good entertainment. Listen to the Prophet Isaiah, "Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote …" (Isaiah 29:13).

When we worship God, it must be with our whole heart; a heart fed and nourished on the truth of God's words so that when expressed in worship, it is not "strange fire" to Him (Numbers 26:61).

It is essential to know that worship is taught by the Word of God and manifested by the Holy Spirit as we live out the Word of God. Therefore, let us make our worship pure before Him today! 

Milton Harding Prayer and Care Minister mharding@sbcv.org