Today’s Scripture: Psalms 100
I was speaking at a church and, a few minutes before the morning service began, the worship leader said, “Well, let’s go get the people warmed up for worship.” Warmed up? Why don’t we warm up before we show up? Maybe we modern-day worshippers need to learn a thing or two.
In Bible days, as the Jews journeyed toward the temple in Jerusalem, they would recite or sing specific Psalms, called “songs of ascent,” (Psalms 120 – 134) to prepare their hearts for worship. Even as they left temple, they would often sing or recite Psalms 134. They worshipped coming and going and between.
What would happen in our churches if, instead of packaging our worship into a 90-minute morning service, we worshipped before, during and after? For the Jews, worship didn’t begin in the outer courts. It began at home and continued at the temple.
What is your frame of mind/heart when you pull into the parking lot of the church on Sunday? A little argument with your spouse? Yelling at the kids? Frustrated that someone took your favorite parking spot? It’s raining and you forgot your umbrella? Too often I’ve carried my frustrated mood into the church and had to depend on a lively song or rousing sermon to bring me out of myself and into worship.
Imagine what a difference it would make if we would prepare for worship before we even leave home. Imagine an entire congregation doing the same thing. Worship would come out of the box and go directly to God’s throne.
- How do you prepare your heart for worship? What could you begin to do differently on your part so worship to the Lord becomes more unified and enriched?