Worship
We were created to worship God. If you’re wondering why you were created and what your purpose on this earth is, it boils down to that one sentence. You were created to worship God.
However, when it comes to understanding what worship means, practically, and living that out in our everyday lives, that isn’t always an easy thing to do.
One of the main goals in my “Worship Quest” book was for readers to come up with their own personal definition of worship. We all need a definition that helps keep us on track, in our thoughts, actions and deeds because worship encompasses our lives. It’s essential that we understand what worship really means if that is our central purpose in life, right? I challenge you to come up with your definition and if you’re willing, share it with me.
Every deed, every action that we perform can be done to the glory of God and can serve as worship.
Worship is central to our life purpose.
Worship is a verb, an intention of the heart, an action. – Chris Young
Worship is the direct acknowledgement to God, of His nature, attributes, ways and claims, whether by the outgoing of the heart in praise and thanksgiving, or by deed done in such acknowledgement.
– Vines Dictionary
Worship is the ultimate goal of the church; all of history is moving toward one great goal, the white hot worship of God and his Son among all the people of the earth.
– Dr. John Piper
Worship is a lifestyle that should extend to every waking moment of our lives. – Chris Young
The word worship comes from the Saxon word weorthscype, which later became worthship. To worship God is to ascribe the proper worth to God, to magnify His worthiness of praise, or better, to approach and address God as He is worthy…the more we focus on God, the more we understand and appreciate how worthy He is. As we understand and appreciate this, we can’t help but respond to Him. Just as an incredible sunset or breathtaking mountaintop vista evokes a spontaneous response, so we cannot encounter the worthiness of God without the response of worship. – Dr. Donald Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God; to feed the mind with the truth of God; to purge the imagination by the beauty of God; to open up the heart to the love of God; to devote the will to the purpose of God.
-William Temple, former Archbishop of Canterbury
True worship is defined by the priority we place on who God is in our lives and where God is on our list of priorities. True worship is a matter of the heart expressed through a lifestyle of holiness.
-Rev. Dr. Delesslyn A. Kennebrew
If you have a personal definition of worship that you’d like to share, email me at [email protected]