Simple Worship

1 Chronicles 16:29
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Worship has become very commercialized in the last few decades. There is an abundance of “worship music,” worship leaders, instructions on how to worship, etc. Many people equate worship with coming to church, singing and praying, lifting and clapping your hands and the like. This is indeed a form of worship but I feel that we miss out by limiting worship to just these few actions. Worship is more than just church attendance and participation.

I believe that  can and should worship God everyday in our homes with our families. I’m not referring to family worship or devotions—both of which are wonderful and necessary—but simply living in a way that is pleasing to the Lord and doing everything as unto Him. That’s worship.

Worship doesn’t have to be complicated, with long, carefully crafted eloquent prayers and rituals.  You can worship God in the little insignificant details of your day-to-day life. Nature worships God simply by doing what it was created to do. We worship God when we do what He has created us to do.

We worship the Lord when we love our husbands and put them first.

We can worship the Lord with the way we treat others, by speaking with kindness and grace.

We can worship the Lord by the way we dress and adorning ourselves with meekness and humility.

We can worship with our housework and care for our families, by  doing it as unto the Lord. (²³ And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men  Colossians 3:23 KJV) Our homes can be places of worship simply because everything done there is dedicated to the Lord. When we do that He will let His peace settle there and people will love to come to our homes because of the peace, harmony, love and warmth that they feel there.

The Lord is attracted to the praises and worship of His people. In the Old Testament it speaks of the smoke from the sacrifices being a sweet savor or smell to Him. It drew Him to His people. The Bible says that He inhabits the praises of His people. When we live in a manner that is pleasing to Him it sends up a sweet smell and He is drawn to us and is pleased with us. The result is a peaceful home full of love.

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O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim;
With gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness,
Kneel and adore Him: the Lord is His Name!

Low at His feet lay thy burden of carefulness,
High on His heart He will bear it for thee,
And comfort thy sorrows, and answer thy prayerfulness,
Guiding thy steps as may best for thee be.

Fear not to enter His courts in the slenderness
Of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine;
For truth in its beauty, and love in its tenderness,
These are the offerings to lay on His shrine.

These, though we bring them in trembling and fearfulness,
He will accept for the Name that is dear;
Mornings of joy give for evenings of tearfulness,
Trust for our trembling and hope for our fear.

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim;
With gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness,
Kneel and adore Him: the Lord is His Name!

--John S. B. Monsell, 1863