“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5)
We serve a multifaceted God. When worship was designed, it created many purposes. The most important, is it is an avenue through which we can express our love to God and glorify him. As much as it pleases God to receive our worship, he designed it for our benefit as well. Worship creates intimacy. It is a great love exchange where we express our love and we receive his love in return. God has made a provision through worship for us to receive so much more than we give when we praise him. There are so many ways we get blessed by entering into worship. Psalm 22:3 says, “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” God inhabits our praise. It literally brings his presence. Worship is a way to meditate on the word of God as we sing. Capturing those words in our spirit and singing them over and over brings our heart and mind into alignment with Christ. Worship is also a weapon of warfare. As we praise God and trust in him, he fights our battles.
Worship takes our eyes off our earthly problems and focuses them on the one who has the solution. When we give thanks, God promises to rescue us from the challenges we face (Psalm 50:14-15). Psalm 30 has two references to praise being integral in taking David from a place of great sadness and replacing it with joy and dancing. Worship is a place where we proclaim the goodness and faithfulness of God and he brings his healing to our broken and hurting places. Additionally, praise brings God’s favor and protection (Psalm 5:11-12). When we focus our worship on who God is and what he has done for us, it fortifies and builds our faith (Romans 4:20-21). Worship is repeating the good testimony of God so when we are faced with trials, we can remember how he was faithful in the past and he will be faithful again.
Worship is so powerful. Let’s put every last breath into praising God and giving him the glory due his name, first and foremost, because he is worthy and deserves our praise. Secondly, let us worship because it transforms us from the inside out.
Listening Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what God loves about you when you worship. Ask him to show you the areas of your life he is ministering to because of your worship. Write down what he shows you.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, You are the master designer. Your creativity and love is beyond measure. You are always looking for ways to bless us. How is it possible that something that is designed to minister to and glorify you, you fashion in such a way that it in turn ministers to and blesses us? You are great beyond measure. It is impossible to comprehend the fullness of your love and kindness. Holy Spirit, infuse us with a fresh hunger to worship. May our praise offerings be ever increasing as we grow and mature in you. Thank you for all the ways you bond us together through praise. May you help me to see you in all things and may my worship bring you joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Resource: Bible Verses on the Benefits of Worship
“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.” (Psalm 5:11-12)
“I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:3)
“You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!“ (Psalm 30:14-15)
“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Psalm 50:14-15)
Speaking of Abraham, “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” (Romans 4:20-21)
“And when [King Jehoshaphat] had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.’ And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.” (2 Chronicles 20:21-22)
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.” (Acts 16:25-26)
Worship Song:
“I Thank God” by Maverick City
“This is How I Thank the Lord” by Mosaic MSC