“It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before Him in their worship. God is sheer being itself – Spirit. Those who worship Him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.” John 4:23b-24 The Message
The woman at the well in John 4 received a unique opportunity to understand Jesus’ mission. He was bringing salvation and because of that, believers who humbled their spirits could worship God at any time and any place. Rather than traveling to the temple or obtaining the proper sacrifices, this new worship was more about the worshiper’s attitude than the outward display. David understood this when he wrote, “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” Psalm 51:17
As I was standing on the shore of Lake Erie last week, the setting sun turned the clouds and surface of the lake into what looked like a myriad of watercolors. I was with my parents and in that moment, I couldn’t keep myself from singing a scripture refrain from childhood.
“From the rising of the sun
Unto the going down of the same
The Lord’s name,
Is to be praised.
Praise ye the Lord.
Praise, O ye servants of the Lord
Praise the name of the Lord
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
From this time forth
And for evermore.
From the rising of the sun
Unto the going down of the same
The Lord’s name,
WoIs to be praised.”
Psalm 113:1-3 KJV
They joined in and as our voices blended in praise to the Artist, I idly thought about the people standing around us. What would they think? Then I realized as I sang “the name of the Lord is to be praised” that it wasn’t optional. It’s a command. Not a command to be ignored, or to chafe under, but one to simply accept and do.
We must praise His name. All day long. Every day.
Worshiping God helps to right my relationship with Him, myself and those around me. It puts me in the right relationship with the work that I do and the thoughts that often clutter my mind.
Just before I sat down to write this, I was overwhelmed with heartache from a loss of hope in a future plan. It was one of those hopes that I grasp too tightly and think about too much. As I sobbed over what surely was a culmination of many lost things (heartache is sneaky like that), it struck me that all hope on this earth is a reflection of the hope we have in Christ. My weeping was indicative of my wrongly placed hope. I was worshiping the things of this world, instead of God.
My God knows what is best for me, and He forgives me when I misplace my worship and my hopes. He gently reminds me that I must obey Him to have life to the fullest.
“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same
The Lord’s name is to be praised.”
ABOUT OUR BLOGGER
Sarah Flowers lives in idyllic Chadds Ford, where she is steeped in beauty and connection to the land and its history. She loves coffee and flowers and getting to know Jesus.
A lifelong learner, she seeks to follow God’s plan to bring justice to the under-resourced. Sarah is a self-declared serial optimist and melodiphile; there’s always a path to the sunny side and a soundtrack for the journey!
She is a mom and wife and a grateful alumna of Northwood University. Her former iterations include automotive professional and shoe diva. Sarah serves on the Deacon Team at Willowdale Chapel.