Own It!

You don't own it until you experience it!

Owning Worship

We use funny language when it comes to worship. “We attend worship.” “We went to worship.” “We worshipped with the church.” “We had a worship service.” We talk about “worship music” and being “worshipful” and “worship posture.” Our speech betrays us. I fear we do not own worship because we don’t understand it. Jesus said God is looking for “true worshippers who worship Him in spirit and in truth.” It seems to me that only a true worshipper can own worship because a true worshipper has experienced worship. Please do not misunderstand me. Those who “lead worship” have a great responsibility to use songs, music, and Scripture to focus our attention on God who is to be worshipped. They usher us into a worship experience. But there are other ushers. Nature ushers me into worship as I observe the majesty of God through what He has created. The faces of my grandchildren usher me into a worship experience as I marvel at the beauty of their lives. The writers of Scripture usher me into worship as I plunge deeply into the mind of the Father. True worshippers are awe-inspired many times and in many ways throughout the day to keep us worshipping by sacrificial living every minute we are alive.

We do not own worship until we understand that all of life is worship to God. Our very lives are living sacrifices offered to God. We do not need just the right environment created by a worship band to fall down and kiss the feet of Jesus. Worship wells up from within prompted by the Spirit who lives in us based on the truth of who God is. This worship is authentic and never-ending, like an artesian spring. Expressions of gratitude and praise break out from our hearts unexpectedly throughout the day. This is a sign that we are owning worship because we are experiencing worship spontaneously. When God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are continuously on our mind we know that we are beginning to own worship. When we are constantly immersed in the glory of God and “hallelujahs” pop out because we just must praise Him, we are learning to own worship. YOU DON’T OWN IT UNTIL YOU EXPERIENCE IT.