What is Worship?

[Written by my friend Kari]

while sitting in church yesterday i stopped and though[t] " What is worship?" 

here are my thoughts

It's expressing your love to God in your own style. It doesn't have to be singing. It can b dancing, praying, writing, painting, drawing and so man other things. It doesn't matte how you do it, as long as you're expresing your love to and for God, it doesn't matter. It's worship. It's showing your lve for God to God. It's expressing your feelings to him in the most intimate way you feel is best. 

The world today tends to view worship as singing in church. In a way, i suppose you could say that it has been stereotyped. However, what the wrld doesnt see is worship that goes on outside the church. They see it as singing songs, raising your hands, and the occassional wrd spoken aloud. What they dn't see is the worship that goes on outside the church walls.

My question is, "Why don't they see it?"

Why?  Because pepople are afraid. They're afraid of being judged and how the wrld we live in will view them. They're afraid of being mocked and made fun of. But if they could see how you truly worship, that there is worship outside of the church, maybe then they too would begin to worship. 

If they could grasp the true beauty of worshi, imagine how things could change?

People wouldn't be afraid or ashamed to worship. Worship is a beatiful and glorious thing. 

If people could see how much in love you are with God when you really get into worship, how you truly do get lost in worship and lose yourself in God and his presence. When you do that there's no stopping. 

If people could see how lost in God you get, and how happy you get in worahip, wouldn't that make them want to worship like that too? 

We live in a broken ad shattered world. When you enter into worship, all of that just melts and falls away. It's just you ad God. It's perfect. Not nly is worship an escape from these things, it can heal what's broken. It can mend hearts, heal old wounds and scars.It can help you find your way when you're lost. It can be the bright light in your darkest of times. 

Why?

Because its bringing you and and drawing you ever closer to God. 

Worship on it's own doesn't do all these things. No. What it does is bring you int the presence of God. 

God CAN do all of theses things and more. he can fix what's been broken, find what's been lost, make the impossible more than posible. He ca show you the way when you wander off the path. He'll hold you when you feel so, s very alone. He will catch you when you're faling, stop you before you hit the ground. He WILL do it. 

Worship brings you to that place where it's just you and God, noone else. It's beautiful. It's surreal. It's perfect. It's real. It's your private one on one time with God. A time where it's ok to get lost, because you're safe. It's a place you can enter and there's no time limit. You can leave when you want and enter into it at any time you choose and will NEVER be rejected or turned away; where you're welcome with open arms. Arms that will hold you tight and keep you safe and protect you from harm. Loved by someone who will never leave you nor forsake you. Who will always be there for you, loving you unconditionally.

That's what worship is.