"I was glad when they said unto me,
'Let us go into the house of the LORD."
Psalm 122:1
A church member made an appointment to talk with her pastor. She said,"I don't know what's wrong with me. I just don't get anything out of worship anymore. It's not your preaching, nor the singing, it's me. I just don't get anything out of it."
The pastor said, "The answer may be found in your own words, 'you don't get anything out of it.' Worship is not what we get out of it. It's what we give to God." How true. The more we try to get something out of worship, the more dissatisfied we become. When we see worship as giving to God, the joy returns.
Worship is designed for us to give our songs of praise, offerings, and ourselves to God. Only then can worship be restored to gladness and joy. Lifting our voices in song is giving praise to God. Prayer is offering thanks to God. Listening to the reading and teaching of the Bible is giving respect to God, and obedience, as we become "doers of the word and not hearers only" (James 1:22). We give honor to God with our financial offerings. We give glory to God by offering our body, mind, and spirit to God (Romans 12:1-2). Remember, worship is giving to God.
The selfish worshiper says, "I quit going to church. I just don't get much out of it. The songs are not my style. The sermons aren't relevant. The people aren't very friendly. I'm just so busy doing other things." The true worshiper says, "I was glad when they said unto me, 'Let us go into the house of the LORD." When we become self-centered, there is no joy in worship. When we become God-centered, the joy returns.
Father. we give ourselves to You in worship.
