The Garment of Worship

The Garment of Worship

Written by Michael D. Warden

"Worship the Lord in the splendor of [His] holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth" (Ps. 96:9, Holman Christian Standard Bible).

What is it to worship God? Is it singing a song? Is it giving Him money, attending a church service, or serving the poor in His name? Is it living a "righteous" life, doing your best to remain free of the entanglements that come from wanting to possess or control the passing attractions of this world? The answer is: no. None of these activities in and of themselves are worship. They are all outward displays of something deeper, something less tangible yet far more real than any outward action or ritual. You can build a church brick by brick with your bare hands and call it worship, but if your heart is more focused on gaining glory for yourself than on giving glory to God, then your great sacrifice is not worship.
Worship is not defined by a particular act but rather by the heart attitude of the person taking the action. It's like a garment we wear over our hearts. Once the garment is donned, then every act becomes worship.

So what is worship? What are the attributes of this garment that God calls us to wear? It's a garment woven not primarily of actions but of deep and disciplined attitudes. Of these deep disciplines, three stand out as key to the worshiper's heart: the discipline of gratitude, the discipline of intimate humility, and the discipline of celebration.

The Discipline of Gratitude
A grateful heart is not something we gain by chance. It's not some lucky by-product of winning the lottery, finding your soul mate, or getting a promotion at work. Those events may make us feel grateful for a time, but the practice of gratitude as a lifestyle is a choice that comes from a place far deeper than mere circumstance can reach.

It's a decision — a disciplined, ongoing choice — to live gratefully before God, regardless of whether you win the lottery, land the promotion, or find your true love. It's a discipline not merely of action but of how we see the world. In choosing a lifestyle of gratitude, we consciously place our heart's focus on life's myriad gifts more than its costs — from the grace to draw breath to the sweet taste of food to the laughter of children and the beauty of the sky. We speak our thanks in every circumstance. We choose joy, and we believe in God's goodness, even when life is hard.

In fact, it’s during those seasons when life seems hardest — when we lose the job or are forced to walk away from yet another failed relationship — that the true beauty and power of a grateful heart is revealed. For it is only in those situations that we realize the gifts of this world, however wonderful they may be, cannot compare to the deeper, eternal gift we already possess — a gift that no circumstance can take away.

The Discipline of Intimate Humility
Worship, when it's real, is naked. It's desperate, honest, and anything but eloquent. In true worship, there is no pretense before God, no performance, no hiding of flaws. It's the place where all the walls you have built finally crumble and dissolve — until there is only you, alone, standing in the consuming fire of God's holy presence. Like the burning bush on Sinai, you are not consumed, and you realize, as Moses did, that the only reason you are alive is because you are loved.

It's the blood of Christ that allows this miracle to happen every time we come before God. But until you make the conscious choice to open your heart to God in intimate humility, you will never truly experience it.

As with other disciplines of worship, intimate humility is not so much a specific action or ritual as it is a way of being with God. It is the choice to live naked before God — unguarded, brutally honest, keenly aware that you are nothing without Him, and yet equally convinced that you are loved.

In worship, intimate humility is the place of sacrifice and surrender. It is the place of fasting and tears. But it's also the place of transformation. For only in intimate humility do we forget about ourselves and focus our full attention on God. Only later do we realize that this act of abandoned surrender is actually the instrument by which we are changed. As Paul affirms, "We all, with unveiled faces, are reflecting the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:18, HCSB).

The Discipline of Celebration
It's sad that the worship in our churches is so often restricted to somber ritual. We bow our heads to ponder God and sing our songs of devotion in quiet reflective tones, being ever mindful of the grave seriousness of approaching the throne of the Almighty.

While such obeisance can most certainly be worshipful, it is not the sum of all that worship can or must be. For worship is also free-spirited giddiness and delight. It's raucous laughter, unbridled rejoicing, feasting, and dance. It's reveling in God's goodness and celebrating the life and salvation He has given. To hold a party in celebration of God's goodness in our lives is every bit as much worship as the fasting and prayer of solitude. And both have a place in the life of every believer.

Celebration is central to the Christian experience. It's a key evidence of God's Spirit in our lives and a testimony to the world of the joy that comes from walking with Jesus and enjoying His salvation. For this very reason, it's also one of the key areas of our lives that our enemy strives to undermine and destroy. There's nothing quite so dismal and pathetic as a joyless Christian — and few things are more damaging to the spread of the gospel. Knowing this, the enemy will do everything in his power to stop your celebration.

That is, in part, why God's Word commands us to celebrate. We must be regularly reminded to look beyond the struggles of the moment and see the outcome that has already been written — the battle that has already been won. The discipline of regular celebration brings that reminder to our hearts and reopens the door of invitation from Jesus — to dance in the midst of Him through the circumstances of this life and to let our hearts come alive with laughter and song for the salvation and joy we have found in Him.

Michael D. Warden is a full-time author, speaker, and life coach who helps people discover and fulfill God's unique purpose for their lives.

I hope tht this wonderful article has given everyone so much encouragemt and hope in worshipping our Heavenly Creator God and [His] Son Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit to infiltrate your spirit today. In that awesome worship and praise in that garment of worship. catcmo2006

God Is In Control

GOD IS IN CONTROL [Psalms 113:1-8 KJV]
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.
3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.
4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD. The Bottomline:

God has praise from his own people. They have most reason to praise him; for those who attend him as his servants, know him best, and receive most of his favours, and it is easy, pleasant work to speak well of their Master. God's name ought to be praised in every place, from east to west. Within this wide space the Lord's name is to be praised; it ought to be so, though it is not. Ere long it will be, when all nations shall come and worship before him. God is exalted above all blessing and praise. We must therefore say, with holy admiration, Who is like unto the Lord our God? How condescending in him to behold the things in the earth! And what amazing condescension was it for the Son of God to come from heaven to earth, and take our nature upon him, that he might seek and save those that were lost! How vast his love in taking upon him the nature of man, to ransom guilty souls! God sometimes makes glorious his own wisdom and power, when, having some great work to do, he employs those least likely, and least thought of for it by themselves or others. The apostles were sent from fishing to be fishers of men. And this is God's constant method in his kingdom of grace. He takes men, by nature beggars, and even traitors, to be his favourites, his children, kings and priests unto him; and numbers them with the princes of his chosen people. He gives us all our comforts, which are generally the more welcome when long delayed, and no longer expected. Let us pray that those lands which are yet barren, may speedily become fruitful, and produce many converts to join in praising the Lord. catcmo 2006

Overcoming Bad HABITS

Overcoming Bad Habits

[Psalm 112:1-10 KJV] 1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish. The bottomline: Our best chance of success in overcoming bad habits, our bad thought pattern, and the hurts in life is to keep our eyes on God. Making good changes in our life won't make everyone happy. Some of our old enemies - old friends who used to lead us astray - will wonder why we No longer relate to them as we did. Some of them may critictize us or think we are snobbish. As a result, we may find self lonely at first. In times like these , we Must look to God, who is alway's with us. With his help we will find new relationships that will strengthen us and learn more in how to reconcile our old relationships so they will support us in the process. catcmo2006

Regulations Concerning Worship

Regulations Concerning Worship [Deuteronomy 23: 1-25]KJV] 1 He that is wounded in the stones *, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.
2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.
3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:
4 Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
5 Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.
6 Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.
7 Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.
8 The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the LORD in their third generation.

Uncleanness to be avoided in the host

9 When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing.
10 If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:
11 But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.
12 Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:
13 And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee:
14 For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.

Of the fugitive servant

15 Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee:
16 He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress him.
17 There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.
18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
19 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:
20 Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
21 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.
22 But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.
23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.
24 When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.
25 When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn.

The Bottomline:The home is of vital concern to God. He cares about marital faithfulness and purity. He spells out these regulations to demonstrate that the marriage relationship is of great and holy importance. Those of us whom grew up in dysfunctional families needs to understand God's pattern for marriage. Mutal fidelity is the only means of establishing a healthy family where members are characterized by maturity and wholeness. Prositution is singled out for special condemnation. Within the bounds of marriage is the only valid context for sex. In society today, sexual activity outside of marriage has become an accepted practice, sexual puirty is viewed as something to be embarrassed about. Healthy marriages must be founded on trust, which is based to a significant extent on sexual purity. God's program for healthy relationships demand sexual activity be kept within the marriage. If we have failed in this area, there is still hope for those whom practice in that area, but the consequences of our failure will be far - reaching. Being trustworthy is an absoute necessity for everyone. All enduring relationships are built on trust. When we make promises, we must keep them - even at great inconvenience to ourselves. Lying is a problem for many peple. It breaks down relationships and eventually destroys them. We Must realize that telling the truth is alway's best for us in the long run. The truth is one boundary we can Never overstep without severe consequences. catcmo2006