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A Worship Routine
A Worship Routine
Do you have a routine to get yourself ready to come to worship services? You wake up after a good night’s rest. You probably dress nicely, have breakfast (or at least coffee) so that you are ready to give the Lord your best attention. If you have a baby, you fill the diaper bag with supplies. You tuck your contribution into your pocket. You grab your Bible and your completed lesson for class. You leave the house with plenty of time to spare.
All these are great! I want also to suggest a few deeper things that we might remember as we prepare our hearts for worship, attend worship, and leave worship. James writes:
Putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves (James 1:21-22).
Preparing to Worship: Put Aside all Filthiness
Obviously, repentance is important every day. But hands and hearts lifted to God in praise must not be burdened with sin (Isaiah 59:1-2). Paul said, “I desire that the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension” (1 Timothy 2:8). He wasn’t so much concerned with the posture of prayer as with the inner attitude that accompanies prayer, the relationship with God that allows unfettered communication.
In this vein, we might also consider our relationship with other people. It’s difficult to carry hatred and strife in one’s heart, and at the same time join in unity to praise God (Matt. 5:23-24). Likewise, a marital spat in the car on the way to church will derail minds from tracking with worship (1 Peter 3:7). Part of putting aside all filthiness is healing our relationships. “If you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matt. 6:14-15).
No one will be able to approach God in utter perfection; a man no less than Isaiah said, when he found himself in God’s presence, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:1-5). Let’s simply do our best, through Christ (1 John 1:7-2:1). “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).
While Worshiping: In Humility Receive the Word Implanted
It’s sad, but many think of worship less as a joy, and more as an obligation begrudgingly fulfilled. They say of worship, “O what a weariness!” (Malachi 1:13, NKJV), inwardly, if not outwardly.
If this is your mindset as you enter the church parking lot, it’s time to change it. Think instead on David’s spirit, “I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord!” (Psalm 122:1).
Our attitude needs to be especially enthusiastic when we open God’s word and learn “wondrous things from your law” (Psa. 119:18). Think of worship as a time to become a better servant by learning new truths, and by rediscovering old truths. A time to allow the seed of the gospel to sink its roots more deeply into our lives because we were interacting with God’s inspired word.
After Leaving Worship: Prove Yourselves Doers of the Word
The ultimate test of effectiveness of a Bible class or a sermon is not the number of plaudits, but the number of changed lives. Too many come “to hear a good sermon” without meditating on the meaning.
Exit the worship service ready to make an impact on the world around you for your Master Jesus. If that requires repentance, do it. If that requires rededication, do it. If that requires extra effort, give it (Matt. 7:21-27).
--John Guzzetta
