Heart of Worship

Isaiah 29: 13 (NIV)The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men…

King David was a man after God’s heart. What is God’s heart? What delights Him? Why music and worship are somethings that God enjoys? Even the Heavens are ringing with songs of worship from eternity to eternity. Have we ever considered why music has such importance in God’s word? What makes man sing or play an instrument? Why is music considered a universal language?

Everything that God creates worships Him in its own unique way and tongue. We are creatures created to worship the Almighty, Eternal God. No wonder our hearts sing songs of worship when we are in awe of Him. God delights in music, song and worship of Him. When our inner man enters into His presence, our hearts cannot contain His glory and so we fall prostate and worship Him. Then the songs of delight and love will pour out from every cell and every part of our being. That bubbling joy when we are in His presence is what God delights and expects.

However, we fail to worship our Creator and Savior in a way we are supposed to. We are so distracted by the things of this world. Satan, the prince of this world distracts us from worshiping our King of kings. Church down through the ages had laid down rules and regulations for worship. We delight in keeping those rules rather than worship Him in spirit and truth. We are worshiping Him with empty words and sinful lips. Our hearts are far from Him. We rather follow the rules laid out by mere men rather than worship God with all our hearts the way we are supposed to.

Colossians 2: 20-23 says that we died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, which means that we are free to worship our Lord in a way that only our heart leads. Nevertheless, we assume we are walking in obedience when we subject ourselves to regulations designed by men, which only have an appearance of wisdom. We must rather set our hearts on things above (Colossians 3: 1) and truly delight ourselves in worshiping Him to our hearts’ content.

How is our heart of worship? Do we delight in worshiping our Maker? Or are we allowing ourselves to be distracted by the teachings of men or societal rules? Do we raise our hands, tap our feet or dance in front of our King? May the King of our hearts guide us to worship Him as we are supposed to.