Prelude to a Journey / Worship and the Word series – part 1

It’s not what I was expecting going into this conference at all! Surprisingly the three-day event set in motion a new journey of my heart, mind, and soul to better understand what the Bible teaches about worship. I was amazed to find myself so intensely on this journey, because I thought I understood all there was to know about worship, since I had been extremely involved in it for years and enjoyed it so much. But I went into this conference carrying quite a few burdens: a difficult physical struggle, close family health problems, and family and friends going through the rigors of divorce and custody issues. I walked in there exhausted – physically, mentally, and emotionally from it all. However, that all changed dramatically while I was there, and I knew why.

You see, we were led in not only incredible, Spirit-led worship each day, but we worshiped for an hour or more, three-times a day, for each of those days. I really believe we worshiped for at least twelve hours in that short three-day conference! And each of those hours found me closer to the throne of God, with a clearer view of who He was in all His glory, and craving more. The result was an incredible peace that flooded my heart and mind, even as I considered all of the various problems that surrounded me and my loved ones. The change was so profound that I knew that I couldn’t ignore the powerful effect of gazing intensely at my Lord and offering to Him all I could in worship.

I left the conference thinking, Wow, what just happened? And what happened when people in the Bible worshiped? How can I become that kind of worshiper regularly?

The God-journey that followed as I scoured the pages of His Word not only increased my knowledge of worship, it changed my view of God, my relationship to God – my life.

My basic study of the Hebrew and Greek definitions for “worship” alone brought new light. They showed me how worship truly melds outward expressions with our most intimate attitudes toward God. They express exuberance (halal), adoration (yadah), and surrender (yadah), as well as blessing (barak), bowing (shachah), and serving (abad).

One of my favorites is the Greek word proskuneo, which literally means “to bow and kiss” in humble adoration: “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit; and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4: 23-24 – all forms of proskuneo). It really changes how you read those verses, doesn’t it! A question I now regularly ask myself: Do I get close enough to God in my times of worship to “bow and kiss” Him?

That consuming, selfless desire to pour out all that we are to all that God is and does is the essence and the heart of worship. In the process, we are exposed to His holiness, His truth, His beauty, His love, and His purpose. We are exposed to His glory!

It’s my conviction that all followers of Jesus must embark on a worship journey – and a life-long one at that. It’s the most important journey we’ll ever take, and it’s one that impacts every other venture, big or small, that we find ourselves in along the way. It’s a journey that knows no bounds in its significance nor on its impact in our lives. And it’s a journey that has no limits and yet has very firm limitations. It has no limits, because the object of our worship, God Himself, is limitless. And it has firm limitations, because not everyone can come. Oh, don’t get me wrong; everyone is invited. More than that, everyone’s presence is longed for by the One True God, who desires – no, is jealous for – our worship. And those of us who choose to accept the invitation to be a God worshiper can expect an adventure like none other. It will find us exploring His unsearchableness and pausing often to respond to His indescribableness. The only map is the Word of God, and our only guide is the Holy Spirit.

In the months to come I will be giving you a glimpse at what I discovered on my worship journey. (For a more in depth look, check out my Bible study, Worship and the Word.) Let’s see together from the Word of God what His intent and purpose regarding worship is for all of us. I promise you will never be the same!

“Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God” Psalm 95:6-7a.

*This post is an excerpt from Lesson 1 – PRELUDE to a Journey, from Pamela Haddix’s Bible study, Worship and the Word, awarded by Worship Leader Magazine as a “Best of 2014” book. For a more in depth look, check out Worship and the Word or purchase it here! Also find Pam’s worship blog at pamelahaddix.com and her Worship and the Word Facebook page here.