Why Is Worship Important in Christianity?

Worship is essential to the Christian church because it is the primary that we believers express our reverence and devotion to God. In prayer, We focus on God, exalting Him for Who He is, surrendering our lives in obedience to his will, and expressing our gratitude for all He’s done for us.

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God desires a relationship with us that is personal, intimate, and loving. Through worship, we grow in intimacy with him. He desires that we worship Him to experience joy and glory. Through our worship, we better understand who He is.

But why should you worship God? And how can you deepen your relationship with God through worship? Let’s find out in this article.

What is worship?

Worship is acknowledging and magnifying God’s greatness, which brings glory to Him. When we worship, we proclaim that God is worthy of our praise and adoration. True worship involves:

Offering up our lives as a living sacrifice to God.
Dedicating ourselves to Him.
Seeking to align our thoughts and desires with His will.

It is to forsake our own ways and submit to him in words and deeds, displaying His praises before the world.

In other words, true worship is when our lives bring glory and praise to God. When our lights so shined that men and women give glory to the Father, that is the worship acceptable to God(Roman 12:1). This is holistic worship that needs to be an ongoing process in our lives. Worship is an expression of gratitude to God and submission to His will. There is no worship if the above is absent.

Of course, our worship must include both internal and external expressions through songs, psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, melody, and even dancing before the Lord. We grow in our intimacy with God as we worship more in this manner.

Why is worship important?

Worship provides a time to express our reverence, devotion, and gratitude to God for His mercy, protection, and sustenance. It is important for several reasons:

It is our response to God’s character: Worship is a natural response to the greatness and goodness of God. As we contemplate who God is, we cannot help but be moved to worship Him.
Brings glory to God: Worship acknowledges and magnifies God’s greatness, which brings glory to Him.
It helps us grow in faith: Worship deepens our relationship with God. As we worship, we get revelations of His love, faithfulness, and power, strengthening our faith.
Unites us with other believers: Corporate worship brings believers together from different backgrounds and cultures. As we worship, we are united in love for God and one another.
Prepares us for service: Our love for God and others grows as we worship. This love motivates and constrains us to serve Him and His people.
Express our love for Him: We love Him because He first loved us and sacrificed His only Son for us.
Finally, worship allows us to experience the “Presence of God” and hear God’s voice.

3 Bible Verses Admonishing Christian Worshipers

Three verses from God’s word include one from the Lord Jesus Christ and the others from Paul, the apostle. They talk about the importance of worship in Christian life and that Christian worship should display God’s glory to the world.

Worship the Father in Spirit and Truth.

One: In the gospel of John chapter 4:24, the Lord Jesus said that God is Spirit, and those that worship him must worship in spirit and truth. True worship is not about external rituals or traditions but a sincere connection with God in the depths of one’s spirit. Every Child of God must learn to worship Him sincerely from the heart.

Worship God with reverence and awe.

Two: “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” (Hebrews 12:28). This verse reminds us that our worship of God should be characterized by reverence and awe, recognizing His greatness and majesty.

Importance of continually offering praise and worship to God :

Three: “By him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” (Hebrews 13:15 KJV). Our worship should not be limited to a Sunday morning service but a daily part of our lives as we acknowledge God’s presence.

What are Common obstacles in worship?

Common obstacles in worship can include distractions, lack of focus or sincerity, legalism, and pride. Anything that prevents us from surrendering our lives and offering our bodies as living sacrifices to God, will become an obstacle to acceptable worship (Romans 12:1-2).

Scriptural ways to overcome obstacles to worship

Here are some ways given in Scripture to overcome these obstacles:

Distractions: It can be difficult to focus on God during worship when there are many distractions around us. One way to overcome this is to set aside a time and place for worship, free from distractions.
Lack of focus or sincerity: Worship can become routine, leading to a lack of genuine engagement with God. To overcome this, we can examine our hearts and motives, repent, and intentionally seek to worship God with sincerity and truth.
Legalism: Legalism involves rigid adherence to rules or rituals without regard for the Holy Spirit during worship. To overcome legalism, we can focus on the Lord and use His word to exalt and worship Him. We can fall at His feet in humility, gratitude, and love and concentrate on worshipping His Majesty rather than wasting time conforming to external forms or traditions.
Pride or Self-Consciousness: Pride can hinder worship by leading us to focus on ourselves rather than God. To overcome this, we humble ourselves before God, recognizing that we’re nothing before Him, and seek to worship Him in spirit and truth.
Above all, we must cast off anything and everything that may try to prevent us from offering our lives as a living sacrifice to God.

Call To Action

The call to action is to worship God in spirit and truth.

Practice the ways to overcome the obstacle to worship discussed.

Make worshipping God a deliberate and daily part of our lives,

Seek to know God more deeply by setting aside time for focused worship, prayer, reading God’s word, and listening to God’s spirit speak. This is the purpose of Christian worship.

Make a deliberate plan to worship God daily. Choose a place and time that minimizes distraction. Make it a time to focus on God in worship, prayer, meditation, singing worship songs, and ministering to edify the body of Christ. In worshiping Him daily, you will become conversant with His Presence in your private worship time.

From now on, as you worship God, make a deliberate internal effort to listen to the voice of God. Take some time to “Be Still” and listen. He delights to speak to those who seek Him. This encourages the people of God to worship Him. Listen attentively to the Holy Spirit; He will speak to you.

Finally, Seek to please God in our worship by surrendering our lives on the altar as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).

Conclusion

Worship is an essential part of the Christian life, as it allows us to express our love and gratitude towards God and to deepen our relationship with Him. Through worship, we can acknowledge God’s goodness, sovereignty, and grace, and we can offer Him our praise, thanksgiving, and adoration. By making worship a daily part of our lives and seeking to overcome obstacles to worship, we can draw closer to God and experience His presence and power in our lives. As we worship Him regularly, He teaches us how to live a life that is pleasing to Him. Through worship, we learn to surrender our life completely to Him, allowing Him to work His will in our life.

Ultimately, worship is important because it brings glory to God and enables us to fulfill our purpose as His children.