Desiring to Worship the Lord from My Heart, Because He is Gracious to Me!

What does true worship look like? The Almighty Lord has given us a commandment about worship. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8) There is a sense in which worship of the Lord of all is the law. Christians seek to follow this direction for healthy lives through weekly gatherings with God’s people for thanks and praise and fellowship.

But the Lord teaches that real worship is not primarily done in outward actions in order to obey. God seeks worship from the heart. For example, consider David’s words in Psalm 51. “16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:16-17) Or, as Jesus teaches the woman at the well in John 4, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24)

I ask you to consider our relationship with the Lord through worship because I recently read a verse in daily devotions which struck me as worship from the heart. I have previously read this verse many times. But this time, as I was reading 2 Samuel, it caught my attention. In 2 Samuel 7 David calls the prophet Nathan into his presence and shares that he wants to build a house for the Lord. However, the Lord turns the tables on David. “ . . . the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.” (2 Samuel 7:11) The Lord promises to establish His kingdom through David and His family. And the Lord will not just establish His kingdom through the lineage of David in this world, but eternally . . . through Jesus!

As he should have been, David was overwhelmed. As I read David’s response, I sensed worship from his heart. David responds to God’s grace with these words. “And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.” (2 Samuel 7:28)

I was once taught that worship and prayer begins with PRAISE, honoring God for who He is. That is what David does. “And now, O Lord GOD, you are God” The Lord who saved Israel in the Exodus, who has called David to be king, this Lord is GOD. He is almighty. He rules everything. David issues this praise to the One who has seen David through Goliath, and Saul, and other trials. “YOU ARE GOD!”

David also acknowledges the CHARACTER of the Lord. “ . . . you are God, and your words are true.” In a world of falsehood and half-truths, God’s words are true. We can trust the reliable word of God to bring truth to our lives. So, in response to God’s promise, David declares that The Lord is God. David proclaims the Lord speaks truth.

I was then taught that true worship with PRAISE for Who God is, and then follows with THANKS for what He has done, for God’s acts of grace and goodness in our lives. So, David offers thanks. “ . . . and you have promised this good thing to your servant.”

So, with a heart of thanks for God’s love, David had desired to build an earthly temple for His Lord. But the Lord and Ruler of all instead establishes a heavenly kingdom through David. Overwhelmed, from the heart, David praises God, acknowledges Him, and thanks Him for His goodness and His grace. That is worship which our Lord desires – worship from the heart!

Have you been surprised at God’s gifts and actions of love and grace for you? Have you experienced the surprise of God’s love in your life through Jesus? As rebellious and disobedient children, we do not deserve our Lord’s love. We do deserve His punishment, death, and condemnation. Yet, knowing our failings, God nevertheless sent His Son. Jesus lovingly sacrificed His life for us and offers us forgiveness. Jesus powerfully rose from the dead and invites us into the heavenly kingdom of God. Have you acknowledged WHO the Lord is? Have you recognized His character of grace and truth? Have you thanked him, from your heart? That is true worship which our Lord desires.

The Lord and Maker of all created the Sabbath because we need the truth of God’s Word. We need the assurance of His grace and love. And as people who stray we need the forgiveness of our Heavenly Father. When we realize the Lord’s overwhelming grace for our sinful lives, how can we do anything other than worship Him from our hearts? God’s plan is that we worship with other believers.

Worship does not just happen by sitting in a pew on Sunday mornings. True worship is a lifelong response to the Lord of love. Do David’s words echo your heart? “And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.” After all, through faith you are part of God’s eternal kingdom.