Revelation 15:3-4
“Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, 0 Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:3-4)
Glorifying God doesn’t have to be a “major production.” Muriel was often an example to me of spontaneously giving God credit. In the grocery store check-out line, I’ve heard her exclaim to the clerk, “Wow! Isn’t God good! Look what He helped me find!” Her heart full of love was forever bubbling over. Many genuine Christians don’t experience much worship in a “worship service;” they don’t feel much warm devotion in their “devotional” time. Yet God longs for those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4 :23).
To get a running start on bringing to life your “worship service” next Sunday, let’s worship Him now. We can do that in many ways – actually all of life should exalt His worth. Telling Him how greatly we value Him, exulting in His person, that is worship. Worship with Scripture. Do you have a favorite Psalm of praise? If none comes immediately to mind, try Psalm 8 or 19. To “tune your heart to sing His praise” slowly read aloud the Psalm you chose, consciously speaking those words to God.
Worship in Song. Look at the topical index of a hymnal under “Worship,” “Praise,” and “Thanksgiving” and choose some of your favorite hymns of praise. Don’t choose testimony songs that focus on your personal experiences. Choose those that speak to God and worship Him. If you don’t have a hymnal, perhaps you can recall a favorite hymn or song of adoration or search the internet.
Sing your heart out to the all glorious One!
“Holy, Holy, Holy” Hoy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee; Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! tho the darkness hide thee, Tho the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see; Only Thou art holy; there is none beside thee, Perfect in power, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea; Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity! -Reginald Heber[21]
Worship in Your own Words. Now that others have inspired you with their expressions of worship, we’re ready to worship Him in our own words. Write out in your journal a prayer of worship. If you’re courageous try putting it into verse a hymn of worship! Write 3 stanzas: 1. First, tell God everything about His person you admire, His marvelous characteristics. That’s worship. 2. Next, review the major activities of God since the start of time, His works of creation and redemption. Praise Him for each of those activities you admire or for which you are especially grateful. That’s praise. 3. Finally, thank God for everything He has done for you personally. Be sure to include earthly blessings as well as the spiritual. That’s thanksgiving.
Worship Him Forever. If I asked you to name the hymnbook of the Bible I’m sure you’d name the Book of Psalms. You’d be right-it’s the hymnbook of God’s people of all the ages. But a close second is found in the New Testament. Do you have any idea which book would qualify? John was overwhelmed with dreadful visions of future doom, but he constantly bursts into praise. He records some of the worship that will one day be offered to God on high in the last book of the Bible, Revelation. As he lets us in on that celestial worship, I think he’s inviting us to join him in adoration. He gives us a preview of the glorious worship in which we will one day participate. Let’s join him in that worship now . . . “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. “ -Revelation 4 :8,11 If you know a contemporary song that sets music to those words, don’t hesitate to sing it now! Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever Amen!” -Revelation 7 :12
Remember, the heavy heart lifts on the wings of praise. To love God is to worship and adore Him and to tell others incessantly about His greatness. May your worship today be part of a life filled more and more with worship of the God who is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise.
[21] Public Domain (1826).