What Does it Mean to Worship the Lord?

After your saving faith in Christ, what’s your natural response? Worship! Here’s what it means to worship the Lord …

Have you ever thought you know what it means to do something … unless you have to put a practice into words?

For example, if I would ask you what it means to worship God, would you know how to answer? Would you break out into song right away?

What worship means

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines worship as honoring or showing “reverence for as a divine being or supernatural power;” or regarding “with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion.”

When you acknowledge that Jesus Christ is who He said He was – the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6) – and when you ask Him to save you, there’s no greater response than to worship Him.

Yes, we show Him great reverence for Who He is. God is the Creator of all! He is before all things! All things hold together in Him (Colossians 1:17)! After all, absolutely no one or no thing else makes these claims and holds this authority.

Out of our reverence for Him, we should show extravagant respect, honor, and devotion.

So how do we do it? How do we show the Lord of the universe extravagant respect? How do we respond to Him in honor? How do we express our devotion?

Worship through song

Probably the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the word worship is singing.

Singing and music are amazing ways to worship the Lord. Listening to – and singing along with – hymns and praise songs have a powerful way of inspiring our praise and lifting it to the Lord.

The Bible – and especially the entire book of Psalms – contains many examples of worship expressed through music. David, who wrote many of the Psalms, knew that worshiping the Lord was vital.

In 1 Chronicles 16: 4, “He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel.”

To do this extolling, thanking, and praising, David instructed:

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
    tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice” (1 Chronicles 15:8-10).

Singing to the Lord, glorying in His holy name, and rejoicing in Him all are significant ways to worship.

Worship through prayer

Worshiping the Lord isn’t restricted only to singing, though. Praying to the Lord is another fantastic form of worship.

And how do you worship through prayer? Since prayer is simply communicating with God, tell Him what you think of Him. Honor Him by the things you notice and appreciate. Praise and thank HIm for who He is. In your prayers, tell Him how grateful you are.

Worship in spirit and truth

When Jesus talks to the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4, He revealed not only who He was, but He also clarified how worship should take place.

Instead of going to a specific location or performing a specific ritual, Jesus shared, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24).

Commentator Matthew Henry writes,

“The stress is not to be laid upon the place where we worship God, but upon the state of mind in which we worship Him. … Those who daily make it the matter of their care to worship in the spirit, one would think, should not make it the matter of their strife whether he should be worshiped here or there.”

Instead of obsessing over the time or place to worship the Lord – or how to appropriately worship Him – simply worship God with all that you are. Don’t try to exaggerate the experience. Don’t sugarcoat yourself to pretend you’re someone you’re not.

Sincerely come before the Lord of all and praise Him. Worship Him. Thank Him with a heart full of gratitude for all that He is and all that He’s done.

As you do that, whether in song or prayer or a completely different way, enjoy worshiping Him in spirit and in truth.

What is one of your favorite ways to worship the Lord?

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Hilary

Hilary Bernstein is a Christ follower, wife, mom, and writer who helps women live for Jesus. She's happiest when she's hosting friends and family for dinner, going on date nights with her husband, singing along to the radio, traveling with her family, and spending cozy nights at home. The author of fifteen books, Hilary also is Women's Ministry Director at The Chapel in Green, Ohio.