Day 1 - Worship is a Way of Life

[fmckinnon]

Hello Worshipers,

Welcome to the first day of our time together in "Pure Praise" - a heartfelt Bible Study on Worship.

Day 1 is called: "Worship is a Way of Life"

What points stood out to you in this opening teaching? Did the Scriptures open your eyes to anything?

In the end, we're asked as part of the "My Surrender" segment
"Ask God to reveal any of your actions or attitudes that are not honoring to him. Write them down; then ask the Lord to forgive you and help you worship Him in everything you do."

If there are things you'd like to confess openly here in the group, (yes, this is a public forum, so it can and will be seen), attitudes that you'd like to confess, or prayers that you'd like to offer, go for it.

Please keep everything in this thread - do not start a new thread.

[sblawrence]

Nice introduction to the study. I like the idea of taking one story in the bible and seeing what truths can be discovered from it. I'm anxious to get more into the meat of the study, though.

Leading worship yesterday, I was struck by a quote from Andy Stanley "Leadership is a stewardship...and your accountable." I looked out over my congregation and was struck with the fact that I am accountable to them. Not that I think they can't worship without me of course, but I'm responsible for creating an atmosphere conducive to worship. The weight of that is HUGE. I've felt more like a band leader than a worship leader, so this study comes at a great time for me. I can't wait to press into this study and become more of a worship leader than just a guy with a guitar on the stage.

[Klampert]

Gotta tell ya it was the most basic of studies. It was like a duh!

Of course we need to be praising god 247 and in all things...

but with that said I could not have read that at a more opportune time.

This weekend was a tough weekend. Church to me was on a scale of 1-10 like 1.5 and our youth meeting while good I walked away frustrated beyond belief.

If worship is about bowing down in reverence before our God and maker then the continual act of worship is as basic as sacrificing your own issues and shortcomings, laying them before the throne of God and asking Him to take over. Asking him to be Lord in all you do and are.

I pray that God forgives what a moron I am and thank Him that he can work in spite of my sometimes artificial actions.

[cynthiacullen]

This study is going right along with my commitment this year to re-tool my life life is every area. It is the most basic thought that we all know that worship is on-going and not event-based, but how easily it is for me to forget that. Becoming a mother of 2 in the last 5 years has rocked my world. Learning how to best use my time and worship through all the multiple ways I am being pulled as a wife, mother, daughter, friend, worship leader, staff member is an on-going struggle. Today, God, I worship you through what is in front of me regardless the task...in everything today, you are God and I worship You.

[fmckinnon]

I was immediately drawn to the story of this "Marty" guy - I wanted to be in worship with him. I thought to myself, "I want to be that guy - the guy who effortlessly flows in worship, the guy who can just sit down, spontaneously, and lead for 30-40 minutes of spontaneous, genuine, praise". That only comes from living it, folks.

Many of us here are worship leaders. How much time during the week do we spend just "playing our instrument and worshiping before the Lord"? As opposed to ... meeting, planning, blogging, twittering, eating, watching TV, etc.

The final questions could get some practical answers - I'd love to hear some of ours:

"So, what does this kind of worship look like in everyday life"?

I think of taking a quick time out of my busy schedule to stop and talk to the kids about God, maybe to pray, and have a little Bible story. Does that bring pleasure to God? Does He see that as worship?

[Joshua]

I think the key point I take from this today and something that I am aware of but quite often need reminding of is what Dwayne says about worship. "Worship is not just something we do on Sundays at church....It involves everything we do and think and are" I think I could use to constantly re-evaluate my attitude torward worship.

When we do things for others, pray with our families, and love someone unconditionally I think we must be worshipping. Also, just sitting alone playing my instrument and worshipping privately is important. I think when we allow all of these forms of worship to overflow into our worship services on Sunday, God really shows up.

Yesterday I led a worship service, but somehow didn't feel connected to God as much as usual. I told my pastor that I thought something was missing somehow. Her response was that the music sounded great and we were really rocking. Lots of people complimented on the music, but not one person walked up to me and said they really felt the presence of God in the service. Hopefully this study will help our music team re-evaluate our attitudes torward worship on Sunday mornings.

[church_piano_lady]

The book asks us to confess that which gets in the way of being true worshippers. For me, it's busyness. I'm "too busy" to worship continually (or too tired after a long and busy day). I'm a part-time worship leader and have a pretty demanding "day job" along with a host of other family issues. I know that the evil one will do what he can to impede my becoming a 24/7 worshipper, including trying to dupe me into this kind of mentality. He'd like nothing better than to keep me from being what God intends for me to be as a worshipper and worship leader.

My husband and I drove to visit my parents yesterday. It's an hour & 45 minute drive one way from our house. They are in their 80s and struggling. My dad is facing possible surgery next week to remove his spleen because he can't stabilize the platelet counts in his blood, requiring numerous hospital visits over the past few months. After bring some meals to them, making supper, and going over health care decisions with them, I left with a heavy heart. I felt a bit like Jehoshaphat facing the battle. One of my brothers (also the pastor of the church I serve) is recuperating from surgery he had last week. I spent his surgery day at the hospital with him and my sister-in-law and talk to him daily on the phone or in person to see how he's faring.

How do you worship in this context? Well, as He often does, God spoke to me in the car - on the way home from my visiting my parents last night. I plugged my iPod into the car and began listening to some of Fernando Ortega's music, when the song title "I Need Thee Every Hour" popped into my head. I felt compelled when I got home, although it was late, to find out the background of the song and to get a piano score for it so I can play it during worship this Sunday. Both of which I did. I'm also planning to do some writing around the lyrics and my interpretation of them.

So here's my worship - recognizing my need for God, not just on Sunday or once in a while, but every day, every hour, every minute. Maybe I'll write a new version of "I Need Thee Every Minute." :) As an artist/worshipper, I'll pour my heart out to Him in a variety of ways, using this hymn as a jumping off point, just as the Israelites did as they faced the battle. I'd normally try to figure out how to control the situation myself, but it is in God's hands. I have no choice but to worship Him as the Almighty One who knows what's best and will reveal His perfect plan. Amen.

[jdlynne]

We know the plan of the enemy is to put things in our way/view and to get us off-track and out of kilter. During these times and at all times, we must remember and focus our thoughts and feelings upon the LORD in an attitude and action of praise and worship. Yes! I Praise Him today and thank Him that these battles are not mine! Lord, I "Position myself, i stand still, and I wait to see the Salvation of the Lord who is with me! Whereever I go, whatever I do, I will stand and will not fear or be dismayed for the Lord is with ME!

[russhutto]

One of my favorite quotes from this study is this:

People have asked me, "isn't the Christian life really just a bunch of 'Thous shalt nots'?" To which I reply, "No, the Christian life is actually one big 'Thou shalt'...love God." It's really simple: Worship him completely.
I've heard that before. I love the simplicity. As humans we tend to over think things and look at things from the wrong perspective. Jesus came and most everything He said was "backwards" from the religious status quo.

Although we know that is was actually "forwards" and it was the religious status quo was what was backwards.

I love all the different perspectives coming through on this study here!

I'm with Cynthia, I've really made an attempt to streamline my life a bit this year and this is a great step in going forward.

Thou Shalt love God completely.

Word.

[ErikaMichelle]

Hello Everyone,

I do agree with what many of you have said so far. It was a basic study, but I think we needed that for the opening of this study in all of our lives - lay down the foundation, so to speak.

Many of us here are worship leaders and I think that we can all agree that our time in worship on Sundays is VERY different from our personal worship time at home. I am our worship leader and music director, so on Sundays, I, we, have a job to do. We need to make sure that we are flowing with our Pastor, are the monitors working, is the band all flowing in the same key, are the congregants responding to the songs, do they even like the song, are the singers flat etc. etc. etc. and the list goes on. We all love that job or else we wouldn't be doing it. HOWEVER, I miss those "Marty" sessions of worship - Just me and the Lord.

It is so important to take that time EVERY DAY to have one on one time with the Lord. As a writer, the best songs come out of those times of worship and intercession.

Dwayne mentioned some definitions of worship according to Strong's Concordance. He didn't mention the Greek definition of worship, however. One of the words used to describe worship in the Greek is "To Kiss". I LOVE THAT. In worship, we kiss the face of God. There is an intimacy that comes when we give all honor to the Lamb upon the throne. That is what I love about worship and that is what I seek to do every day.

[Maggievt]

One of the books I have been working through lately is 'Practicing the Presence of God'. This lesson for this day just reinforced that - gave it more real meaning. It had me on my kness in my back office, here at school, asking for that type of closeness - to walk in the 'Marty' moments. To be so close to Him that I can share those moments.
For me, my daily surrender is (and is usually!) around just that - surrender. The continual giving up of control. Not just understanding I want to relinquish control, but LIVING that and staying out of the way and knowing the times I TAKE control, life goes downhill in a hurry!
And, what I would have has NEVER been as special and wonderful and incredible as what He has for me.
I really look forward to learning from all of you!

[chadwesley]

I honestly think that I have learned more from everyone's replies than I did from the study itself. There is something about hearing other worship leaders talk about situations that I am experiencing that helps me learn and grow. I love what sblawrence said in an earlier reply, "We are responsible for creating an atmosphere conductive to worship". That really hit home with me. Thank you. I look forward to reading and interacting with everyone over the next 9 weeks.

[hisfirewithin]

I felt some serious conviction about my own heart today as I read the first day of this. I get that worship is a lifestyle, and that it encompasses everything we do. But, what convicted me is the POSTURE of worship as he talks about it. Here's the quote:

"God is our superior; he is our Lord. Submitting
to him as our master is the essence of worship."

It's such a simple truth. But in that small sentence is a huge implication, and that is simply that even in a position of spiritual authority and leadership, there is such humility and submission that is required. Am I doing this on Sunday mornings? Am I doing this when I prep for the weekend? Does the whole of my life conform to this ideal? I've heard church leadership described as a divine-human partnership. Through this morning, I was reminded that this is simply not true. My posture is to be one of submission and obedience, rather than strategy and organization. That is how God gets the glory for it all. He will build His church, He will fight the enemies off, He will order things as He sees fit. VERY good first day. I'm looking forward to tomorrow!

[MimsiGal]

After reading through the first day (or so, I confess!) I am really excited for this study!

God has been showing me over the past year that each one of us is a worshiper - even if we don't recognize it. We were created to worship Him, and He is the only one worthy of it. I needed the reminder, though, that worship is a part of everything that we do - eating, drinking, driving the kids to school, sitting in a meeting, watching tv, cleaning toilets... the list goes on and on. Every single action that we do can be made an act of worship to God Almighty.

Confession time - I have been slipping into a funk over the past couple of weeks, and I know that it is not pleasing to Him, so if I got nothing else out of this day, I am getting that swift kick to get me going again! This day (and every day) is a sacrifice of surrender to God - everything I do today needs to give Him the glory. Turning that around - I need to do something with the gift that this day is to give Him glory! ;)

Now to go and live out this day...

[bassgeek]

In response to the "Daily Praise" section, God did recently show himself to me.

I'm part of another (secular) forum where a core group of us have developed some serious friendships over the last few years.

An atheist in our group posted a link to a story in England (he lives there) where an atheist group were paying money to put atheist signs on buses. This sparked some religious discussion (debate) between us.

In the end, it mostly came down to me and one other gal who really doesn't seem to know what she believes. She claims to be an atheist, but yet seems to be searching for something. She still stands by her belief that there is no God.

As these discussions went on over the course of a few days, I began to get a really heavy heart over my friends' conditions and their confused thought processes regarding their faith. It was really weighing on me by the end of the week.

Friday morning, I left the house with my son to get him to school, and the entire Eastern half of the sky was a beautiful Orange color. Within the next 10 minutes, the clouds turned pink all over and then the East went to a vibrant yellow. As I was driving on here to the office and praising God for the beauty he just created before me, I strongly felt him saying "Its ok, I've got it under control". Just that fast, I felt a great relief as the pressure was lifted from my heart. Only a few minutes later, I pulled in here here at the office and just to seal the deal, there was a bright rainbow forming in the West (we don't get a lot of rainbows here in Central Nebraska in January).

Thanks God.

[fmckinnon]

Joshua wrote:
Yesterday I led a worship service, but somehow didn't feel connected to God as much as usual. I told my pastor that I thought something was missing somehow. Her response was that the music sounded great and we were really rocking. Lots of people complimented on the music, but not one person walked up to me and said they really felt the presence of God in the service. Hopefully this study will help our music team re-evaluate our attitudes torward worship on Sunday mornings.

Joshua - Ouch. That's a tough revelation - thanks for sharing it.

[fmckinnon]

How do you worship in this context?
Hey, I read your post with compassion, thinking about all you are going through. But I have a thought and I want to express this respectfully, but with a sincere attitude ... I think, to some degree, you may be missing part of the point ... and more importantly, part of the REWARD.

My takeaway today is this ... I'd say that in honoring your father the way you did, your brother, in sacrificing and making that drive, serving Him, that you were doing that "as unto the Lord". Sure, it wasn't you singing a song of praise to God ... but you were serving ... giving of yourself, showing compassion and grace to your family, instead of being selfish. If Romans 12: 1-2 is true (and we all know that it is), this type of "being transformed" (which I think in doing these things, we are giving of ourselves) is considered a "spiritual act of worship".

I guess what I'm saying is ... should we be able to think that, in a different kind of way ... you were honoring and glorifying God (worshiping Him, in a different way) by the service that you showed to your father?

My takeaway is that we need to see worship in a much broader sense than "the music on the ipod". Make sense? Am I alone?

[efrisch]

Glad to be here and be a part of this study. I'm excited about what God has in store for us these next few weeks...

The question that really jumped out at me as I read was this one:

"How can even your simplest and most common tasks bring honor and worship to God?"

I agree with those who have said that this is a simple topic, but I think we often complicate it beyond belief. We talk all the time about "worship as a lifestyle", but I think a lot of us (including me) have trouble with expressing that lifestyle outside of our corporate worship gatherings. It's easy to forget how to worship when we can't hide behind our pianos and guitars (and even lyrics!)

I've come to believe that the key is that anytime we act in a way that is pleasing to God, we are worshiping Him. My hope is to live a life than honors God (as much as it is within my power as a person in need of grace!), trusting that that lifestyle and the witness it can provide to the world is perhaps one of the highest forms of worship God can receive. The "simple and common tasks", the everyday stuff, can sometimes be the most powerful witness we've got... if only it was as simple as it sounds!

[halster]

How often do we notice the colors God puts before us as the sun comes up or goes down ... That was so well put ... even on a cloudy day !! Living in Arizona, it seems God paints the skys even on the worst of days ..... Thank you for the reminder ....
What I got most from this today was the scriptures we read ... and how bad the situation was these people were facing ... certain death for sure ... but once they were reminded of the God they served ... they totally focused on their worship and praise .....
This point made me ask myself, how often to I let the technicalities of even our Sunday worship time take us away from our true ability to lead our community in worship .... let alone as we go through our "work a day" world take us from what's most important. Aren't the best leaders those who can lead by example ..... Isn;t it our JOB as servants to show people what it's like to worship ... even when it may not be going as well as it should or our live are in the toliet at the moment ..????
Putting our selves in the shoes of those in the world who are wondering what their going to eat this week should make it easy for us ... but can we always pull it off ???? How often do we let "issues" distract us from what we should be doing ... and in doing so we fail to lead .????

Because we are blessed to have a team of folks that help with the tech side of the house ... I am able to sit with my wife (which she just loves) during service a Sunday or two a month .... we have on our team a person who I've been rather critical of (in my own mind of course) ... thinking ...what in the world are you doing here .... as this person does not get into the topics presented by our pastor ... to the point that it is sometimes a bit annoying because he is so busy when the rest of us are trying to listen and be involved .... well ... after praying for him on Sunday (I was enjoying that day off) which I will normally do every week .... I found myself criticising(sp) the worhip set that was going on .... and realized I that was really doing the same thing ..... not taking part in praising GOD .... and what really convicted me was that I realized there were people who were sitting in our neighborhood who were watching ...... great leadership eh ???? God forgive me. Someday I will learn to check my own actions before being critical of others .... (not my jerb)

I'm very excited about taking part in this study .... I alway seem to learn a lot not only from the "lesson" of the week ... but from all of you ...

Thanks ... and keep rockin ....

[Wrapped in Jesus Love!]

--Before I get into my comments on the reading for today, I'd like to share some ideas that I am doing that may or may not help you in this study. I recently finished listening to a book on tape The Healing Power of Prayer. In this book, they gave many ideas on how to set up an area in your house to help to create a worship atmosphere. Some of the ideas were to light a candle to show God's presence, place a cross in the area, play soft music. I have chosen to have the soft music playing during this study. I may use the candle idea yet to but didn't today. On itunes I found "Music to Pray By". It is approximately 30 minutes of piano playing. I think possibly Fred McKinnon may have some similar music that could be used also.

--My other idea that I am using is that in addition to having this website open, I also have Microsoft Word open. I have titled the file and the top of my document: Pure Praise On-Line Bible Study Group Comments. Then below that in my document I typed: Week 1 - Day 1 - Worship is a Way of Life. As I was reading through the threads, if I saw something that someone wrote that I wanted to read over and over or something that really hit me, I copied it and put it into my word document. And I will continue adding to this until we are finished. That way, I can either print them out and keep them in a notebook or just open the Word document at any point during this study and/or days/months or years after the study.

--Next I want to thank all of you for your thoughts. I, too, am getting a lot out of reading all of your comments. I feel that God has placed us all in this place at this time (it is in His plan for all of us to share with and learn from each other). So I thank you all.

--Now for today's study. From the Bible reading (2 Chronicles 19:1-30), verse 15 says - Don't be afraid or discouraged, because of this large army. The battle is not your battle, it is God's. Vs 17 - stand strong in your places. Don't be afraid or discouraged because the Lord is with you. Vs. 20 - Have faith in the Lord your God, and you will stand strong. (Originally Posted by church_piano_lady - How do you worship in this context?) The only way sometimes to worship in this context is to stand strong in the Lord, and know that He is with you. This is not my battle it is God's. If we truly believe that we will turn our problems over to Him. It may be difficult to turn them over and may take time to do that, but when we do, God will give us a peace that surpasses everything. Also, I had the thought that Jesus worshipped God through His interactions when He was on the cross. If Jesus can worship God while hanging on the cross as a human, then we should be able to worship God in all things.

--I, too, want some "Marty" worship. In addition to running my two teenagers here and there, I am a school secretary working 40 hours per week and also a church music director/organist. I become very busy very easily. I am involved in the "working" aspect of the Sunday morning service and do get something from it, but not always a "Marty" experience. I would like to hear ideas from all of you on how to have a "Marty" experience. I have had "Marty" experiences in the past, and have felt the Holy Spirit moving within me. I realize that the "Marty" worship experiences happen I think when I make worshipping God my main goal and letting Him take care of everything else. It's when I try to control the situations that I lose the "Marty" worship experiences. Taken from the book on page 12: - I would like to "stand in God's throneroom and tell him how awesome he is".

--On page 12 in the book - Deuteronomy 6:4-5. We are to love the Lord, our God, with everything we are: heart, soul, mind and body. We should try to make that our number priority in life. If you follow this guideline, how you act and what you think and say will be changed. Always remember that people are watching you, and you may be the only Jesus they see. What would you like them to take away from the observations they have of you?

--I think that the sins we have may block our ability to worship God completely. I ask God to be with my thoughts, deeds and words. If I have bad thoughts or say bad things about someone, with God's help I will stop first and instead of having the thoughts or saying the words, I will pray for that person. Hopefully after doing this for a while, it will become a habit to pray for people instead of thinking bad thoughts.

--God bless you all throughout this study. I look forward to growing with all of you through this experience!

[Wrapped in Jesus Love!]

In the reading from 2 Chronicles: vs 21 - Then he chose men to be singers to the Lord, to praise Him because He is holy and wonderful. As they marched in front of the army, they said, "Thank the Lord, because His love continues forever." Remember to always sing your praises to God. Remember to always thank Him in every situation. This verse really impacted me. I think it would have been difficult to worship during this time. But Johoshaphat must have chosen people who he knew had enough faith to sing praise throughout tough times. They chose to worship and sing praises instead of trembling in fear and God took care of everything for them. God is waiting with arms open wide. We have to make the choice to worship Him.

[benchilcote]

I think the idea of worship as a lifestyle is now a common idea among christians. Today I feel like I came into a deeper understanding of this idea. Instead of taking my regular, routine, everyday life and trying to make it pleasing to God, I need to go back one step further and focus on the reasons for things I do in my routine, everyday life - or the objectives I am trying to reach.

It seems like worship is/should always be preceded by our revelation of God. I've heard Matt Redman say that worship is our response to God's revelation. In the Old Testament, there's the pattern of God showing up, then people bowing down. So I have to ask myself - are my actions/thoughts/words/etc. a response to God's revelation in my life or just me doing whatever I want and trying to make them pleasing to God? If they flow out of God, then I am living out worship as a lifestyle. In stead of examining my life as-is and trying to conform it to please God, perhaps I should go back and make sure that my life is flowing out of my revelation of God.

This also ties into our identity as servants and God's identity as Lord. If we live our lives as if we were God's servants and all our life was about obedience to God, then our every action (theoretically!) would be an act of worship, or obedience.

To attempt to use a metaphor, say I was an employee working for my boss. I love my boss and want to please him and do well for the company. Boss says, "Ben, I want you to make 20 widgets today." What if I came back at the end of the day and said, "Today I cleaned the bathrooms, took an hour break to watch a training video on management, washed your car and made 10 widgets. I worked at it with all my heart in order to make you and the company look good." The point isn't ONLY that I had the right heart and motivation, but that my actions flowed out of what my boss's desire was of me that day.

I don't know if I explained that very well but hopefully that makes some sense! :)

[Mike S]

What fascinates me most today is the garments of praise.

[Rogenia]

This first lesson was awesome for me. Yesterday, I felt as if I was getting involve into a bible study that I did not belong; because I not part of a choir, praise team or instrumental at all. Today, after doing my first lesson and praying and praise the Lord, I felt so relieve just hearing His voice tell me that I am where I am suppose to be. There is a storm going on in my life right now; and I have peace. There has been things I wanted to say and yet He has kept me quiet. I talk with Him everyday and pray and yet, today I realize that I have not been praising Him the way that I should. I read and study the Word of God daily; and yet I have not been praising Him like I should. I thank Him and I give Him all the glory for giving me another opportunity to get things right. I have been falling short. I have truly enjoyed my first lesson.

I apologize for coming on so late. I work 10 hours shifts. 3 days a week after work I am laboring. But I will be joining everyone every evening. God bless.

[Rogenia]

This verse really impacted me also. When I read your response, it really hit home. It has been difficult for me to praise and sing throughout tought times. I have always been the one who constantly be praying and praying. Not thinking about singing. And knowning that when the praises goes up; the blessings come down. My faith keeps me from fearing alot; I know He will deliver if I just stand. (smile) But now I am going to start praising Him more and worshiping Him more.

Rogenia

[Wrapped in Jesus Love!]

It amazes me how God intertwines things in our lives. I have seen it happen many times when planning the songs for a service. It amazes me how the songs match other things in the service. I know God is at work in times like this. Another example is the phrase that Rogenia posted about when the praises go up, the blessings come down. In the comment that I made prior to Rogenia comment I actually typed that same phrase into my comment and then deleted it. And then when I read Rogenia's comments and there was the same phrase. God is surely at work here.

There have been several things this evening that I have read or heard outside of this website that all relate to singing of His praises through good times and bad. I received an e-mail earlier and it referred to the same scripture used in the reading for today. That is one of the ways I see God at work - reinforcing through many different avenues.

I think the biggest thing I learned today is to sing His praises always. HE IS worthy of my praises. Make Him my first priority and let everything revolve around Him. Then the worship will just happen.

[Steffanie_Oltmans]

For some reason I was getting login errors last night and couldn't post. So here it goes I am posting my thoughts on yesterdays study.

Although the lesson in todays study was simple it really got me thinking do I honor God in EVERYTHING I do? Can I say that my everyday life is worship to Him? In some cases the answer would be yes, but then what about that little twinge of an attitude I feel towards that person that rubs me the wrong way? Even though the attitude is not outwardly displayed its still there in my heart and not very God honoring. What about complaining about that little task I don't want to do, even if the complaint is only heard by my spouse? Is that honoring God?

I need to do better. Today I'll be asking myself the question "Does this honor God"?

[christyg]

When I think of authentic worship, I think of Romans 12: 1 - 8. We are to give up our bodies as living sacrifices to our God as this is our spiritual act of worship. We are supposed to act according to his good will for our lives and our actions should follow our talk. If our talk doesn't match our walk then we are not pleasing God the way we should be.

"Is it really possible to worship God when you're at home or school or work?" The verse above tells us that we should always worship God when we are at home, school, or work, and not just on Sunday's mornings or when the church is open. If you are serving others and doing it for the Lord's joy and not for your own personal gain, then you are worshiping the Lord. So how do we worship the Lord at home includes things like: praying together as a family, serving each other, ect. Another way to serve our Lord is by presenting random acts of kindness, such as, holding a door open for someone, carrying in the groceries for the elderly woman across the street, ect. All of these things allow you to set aside yourself and serve our Lord.

I hope this study will help draw me closer to God as I haven't been studying his word like I know that I should be.

[Carmie]

First I would like to say that I am looking forward to the remaining parts of this study. I have been a part of our praise and worship team for a few years now and I am to assume the PW Leader role shortly. This book has been a great blessing to me so far.

In yesterday's study, what struck a cord with me was the mentioning of how we should be in worship all week long and how much more people would get out of worship on Sunday, if they would worship through out the week. I have learned over the years, that you can't live off of Sunday worship all week long. You have to dig into God's word as well as spend intimate time with him in prayer and in praise.

There has been Sunday's were the spirit of the people was low and it pulls at my heart, when they are like that. Just the same, when they "sit on" praise and worship, as if they have nothing to praise God for. It is definitely mind boggling at times.

[Carmie]

I think the idea of worship as a lifestyle is now a common idea among christians. Today I feel like I came into a deeper understanding of this idea. Instead of taking my regular, routine, everyday life and trying to make it pleasing to God, I need to go back one step further and focus on the reasons for things I do in my routine, everyday life - or the objectives I am trying to reach.

It seems like worship is/should always be preceded by our revelation of God. I've heard Matt Redman say that worship is our response to God's revelation. In the Old Testament, there's the pattern of God showing up, then people bowing down. So I have to ask myself - are my actions/thoughts/words/etc. a response to God's revelation in my life or just me doing whatever I want and trying to make them pleasing to God? If they flow out of God, then I am living out worship as a lifestyle. In stead of examining my life as-is and trying to conform it to please God, perhaps I should go back and make sure that my life is flowing out of my revelation of God.

This also ties into our identity as servants and God's identity as Lord. If we live our lives as if we were God's servants and all our life was about obedience to God, then our every action (theoretically!) would be an act of worship, or obedience.

To attempt to use a metaphor, say I was an employee working for my boss. I love my boss and want to please him and do well for the company. Boss says, "Ben, I want you to make 20 widgets today." What if I came back at the end of the day and said, "Today I cleaned the bathrooms, took an hour break to watch a training video on management, washed your car and made 10 widgets. I worked at it with all my heart in order to make you and the company look good." The point isn't ONLY that I had the right heart and motivation, but that my actions flowed out of what my boss's desire was of me that day.

I don't know if I explained that very well but hopefully that makes some sense! :)
What you said made so much sense to me and I will now have to revisit how I routinely do things in my everyday life. Thanks for some great insight.

[alangustin]

As I got a late start and just read Day 1, then read the posts of my brothers and sisters who have joined together for this study, I notice a recurring theme... that even though the concepts put forth in the book may be rudimentary, most of us are confessing that we need to hear this right now.

As I am in the process of forming a team for musical praise and worship at a church plant, I cannot let myself become overwhelmed by the logistics of it; rather I must let God lead me in everything I do, I must remain surrendered to His Lordship over my life, and respond in a way that brings glory to Jesus.

Our "job" (should read, "Our life") as worship leaders is about facilitating an encounter with the Living God. What a challenge it is to do that given the 15, 30 or even 45 minutes we get on Sunday mornings. As Marty worshiped, people followed him into the presence of God. I must be seen as worshiping, not entertaining. My life must also reveal my worship.

Getting "back to basics" is really appropriate for my situation, and I'm glad to be sharing in this group study. On to read Day 2...

AG

[TruePraise]

i just finished day one also, and i was thinking about the questions about how we can make our everyday life, the little things an offereing of worship....

For me it is attitude..not letting myself grumble and complain, but taking each task as a chance for doing things for Him, in the stage of life that I am in, right now....

[Stillfreetosing]

I love just reading all that has been shared already. Yes it may seem basic or simple but for me right now that is where God is directing me.
I have been learning alot about the invitation to solitude and silence. I think that is where we hear God and He in turn responds to us with His unfailing love.

I only have this chapter so far, still am waiting for my copy which I am excited to be able to join in the days to follow.

Reading 2 Chronicals 20 was powerful. Allowing God to be all that He is and watching how something ment for harm can be the very thing that brings Gods people to be in awe of Him. Verse three.. where it says "and Jehoshaphat feared and set Himself to seek the Lord."

when we worship we postion ourselves to seek the Lord. To lay aside ourselves and come open and in awe.

Being in tough times I have not always sought after the Lord, I ran away. But He is waiting for me to settle enough to trust that in His arms is the only true safe place I can ever be.

to praise Him because His mercy endures forever!

also that worship is a very minute by minute, second by second, breath by breath way of showing our love and surrender to His Lordship over our lives. Giving back to Him what He has so graciously given to us, by extending that outward to one another in simple deeds or words.

[Rahel]

I finally got my book yesterday and started reading today. So maybe I am the last one, but I still enjoy having it, being able to be a part of this coversations, reading all the posts and knowing what You are talking about :)

I have not read all posts yet....but will continue later...

Two points became important to me.
First I liked the idea of talking about worship from the perspective of one of the most worse situations You can be in. The people of Israel were watching against 3 mighty armies and had no chance in the natural. To start from this point takes every excuse from us :) There can not be any situation in our lives that would not have an solution.....and obviously it has something to do with worship. Even difficult situations in our ministries can be overcome...by bowing before God and loving him above all else.
And this was the second point that became important to me....the definition of worship as bowing before somebody who has superior authority. Very often I have the feeling that we step into worship before God and treat him as one of us. Of course we proclaim him as Lord and the one in authority with our lips. But do we with our daily life? Do we step in reference and fear of God in our hearts before God? Knowing that he really IS of higher authority?
And this is what would show to me how we can worship God in everyday life. Choosing his word above all else in every situation and decision we have to make. In the decision how to treat the people next to us. In the decision of how doing our work. Putting God in everything above all and choosing his will above our will and desire and dreams...that's worshiping him in everyday life.
Can people see what God we serve in the way we act and treat him?
This is a question I ask to myself and pray that God will reveal to me where I give another picture.

[Rogenia]

My prayer is that God remove anything that is not fitting to Him. I pray that He lets the Jesus in me be visible for others to see. I know that I am not worthy, yet I thank Him for His mercy and grace that He has bestowed on my life. I pray that Father God, continue to show me the direction He want me to go and the right decisions to make and the wisdom to go the right direction. There are something that happening in my life right now, and I am praying for God’s to pour wisdom into my mind today and keep me focus on Him and not the problem.