David Ralph

This morning as I arrived in my office at around 6;30 a.m. and opened my journal as I do most days, my thoughts turned to the whole area of worship.  I’m not sure why.  I starting listing a long list of questions about this whole area of worship in my life.  My thoughts were not about the community at Lakeside and worship but more about myself as a worshipper.  I wrote questions like,  1) am I a true worshipper of God – 2) when I am alone with God in solitude each morning is it really a time of worhsip 3)when you are not a real touchy/ feely kind of person how do you worship God with your whole heart and know that you are doing it 4) how important is daily worship of God 5) what are the activities of worship – etc.

Then I asked what I think is the most important question.  The one to be answered before all others – “what is worship?”.  I know I could go online and find a definition.  I know I could find books on my shelf that could help with this question.  But I needed a definition that was my own if it was going to be meaningful.  As I kept looking at the blank page underneath the spot where I wrote this question a thought came to mind about what worship is.  I wrote these words – “worship is when I give God my best and it flows from the awareness that he has given me His very best.”  Then I wrote – ‘worship is about praise and thanks and gratitude to God for all that He has given me.  Out of that praise and thanks and gratititude I give back to God my very best.”

Then I looked through the CD collection I have on my desk and there was a song that just drove this idea home.  It is by Brian Doerkson and is titled “With All My Affection”.  I had listen to this CD but never really heard this song.  The words captivated me.  Listen to them – “With all my affection – all my understanding – Lord I worship you.  With every action – all my spirit’s passion – Lord I worship you.  There is no higher call – than loving you with my life – there is no higher ground than kneeling down before you – Lord I surrender – I worship.

I let that song play over and over again.  While playing it I started to imagine the difference that this attitude of worship could do to every area of my life.  If I gave God my best in my ministry – my family – my time – my money – my leading – my friendships – my work relationships – how much difference could that make?

With those thougths running around in my mind and this song ringing in my head I am off to face another day.  I know that it will make a difference.  I just hope the sounds of the day don’t drown out these sounds.  But I know that if they do – tomorrow morning I can get alone again with God and be reminded of worship.