Our world has seen dark days. We have seen and still see war. A disease and financial crisis are happening too.
And while these are all things happening to the world at an individual level, we experience dark days too.
There are dark days, whether it's the loss of a job, the death of a loved one, or facing marital problems. Maybe you are facing depression and anxiety or feel like you are missing your calling in life. These are dark days.
Yet, a spiritual discipline changes everything in the middle of these dark days. This discipline changes our perspective and even impacts the environment around us.
Today, we are going to talk about the spiritual discipline of worship. In this discipline, we will find freedom, courage, and strength when things get complicated.
Most of all, it will connect us to God when things seem hard, and God feels distant.
What is Worship?
When many of us think of worship, we think of Sunday morning church services. Often, we think of the worship service where we sing, listen to the Bible being read, and a pastor preaching.
Or, we think of worship as singing songs in church or at home. We think of our favorite hymns or worship songs. We reserve the idea of worship for this activity only.
Yet, it is so much more. It is more than a church service or singing songs. Yes, these things help us connect to worship, but ultimately, worship is more than a service or music.
"It's more than a song we sing—it's our heartfelt response that we give to God." - Bill Johnson, Bethel Church
If it is more than a service or a song, and worship is our response to God, then worship is an essential part of our daily lives.
After all, if worship is our response to God and God is active in our lives, we should regularly respond with praise and thanksgiving for what God has done.
As such, I like what Louie Giglio says about worship to help prepare us for how to create a lifestyle and discipline of worship:
"Worship is our response, personal and corporate, to God for who He is, and what He has done; expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live."
How to Practice the Spiritual Discipline of Worship
"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him." - Romans 12:1
While the Apostle Paul tells us to give our bodies, what I imagine he is talking about after reading further into this Bible chapter is advising us to give our lives.
This makes sense when we consider what worship is, a response to what God has done. Most of all, it reminds us that worship is a whole life discipline.
Because of this, we need to learn how to apply the spiritual discipline of worship to our entire lives. So, I propose a few ways to use the spiritual discipline of worship in your life.
Before we do that, I want to point out one more important scripture, Matthew 22:37:
Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind."
For today's purposes, let's consider how we worship God daily with our body, soul, and mind.
Worship with our Body
When it comes to worshipping God with our body, one of the best ways we can respond to God with thanksgiving and praise is by using our body.
This means getting out of the house and going for a walk, run, or some exercise that reminds us of the gift our body is from God.
It doesn't have to be strenuous. However, when I have to use my muscles or endurance to go some distance, I rejoice in what God has given me.
As you are out using your body, spend time thanking God for the strength, endurance, and capabilities that your body has for your life.
This can be a simple way to worship God, even when things a hard. And it is a quick way to see how much God has given you to be thankful for.
Worship with your Soul
When it comes to the soul, we are talking about our will and emotions. This makes up a significant part of our lives. And when we practice the discipline of worship in this way, we can connect with God deeply.
Worshipping God with your will is to obey God when he calls you to do something in your life.
Maybe he is telling you to do something nice for your neighbor or to give financially to a cause. When you obey God in an area like this, you are worshipping him.
Perhaps you are going through a hard time. You feel miserable, sad, angry, or afraid. In these moments, we can truly show our praise and thanks to God.
Start listing things you are thankful for in your life. Praise God for each of them and tell them how they bring you joy. Or remember how God has stepped into your life and made something happen.
These stories and points of thankfulness will help move your emotions from feeling bad to experiencing joy and peace.
Worship with your Mind
This may seem a bit more abstract. However, a practical way to worship God with our minds is to remember the truth and thank God for it.
I have found so often, when my mind is busy, distracted, or unclear, to go back to the truth that God has given me with praise and thanksgiving that he steps in and helps clear things up.
When God comes in after I worship with my mind, I find myself more thankful and willing to praise him than when I started.
This form of worship is about renewing our minds, connecting our spirits with the Holy Spirit through truth, and allowing it to shape the rest of us.
Often enough, this form of worship can also impact your soul and body worship.
Final Thoughts on the Discipline of Worship
When things are hard in our lives, finding space to worship God for who he is and what he has done would be challenging.
Yet, in these moments of worship during the darkest days, we connect with God in remarkable ways.
Things are complex, but we can honestly say God is good. We have a loss, but we can trust God to bring us through. We are hurt, sad, or depressed, yet God will bring us healing, joy, and peace.
Worship alters how we interact with the world and its life problems.
This is why worship is a discipline because we need it most when we struggle in our darkest valleys. When we step into worship, climbing out of those valleys brings us back to where God has great plans for our lives.
How do you worship with your entire life? Share in the comments below!
J.R. Heimbigner is a #1 Bestselling Author on Amazon who loves helping people grow in their faith and help writers become authors. You can connect with him on Medium, his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Substack!
Check out his bible study devotional on Proverbs and the Gospel of John!
If you like my content on Transformed Faith, help me to keep creating great content by donating to the Transformed Faith Ko-Fi Page!