Worship: Responding to God with Right Hearts | February 20, 2023

In Pastor Tom’s sermon yesterday, we learned about the postures of worship. Whether we raise our hands or raise our voice, dance or shout, sit, kneel or stand, it all honors God in worship when our hearts are right with Him. When our actions are empty, or when we are performing to look good for those around us, we are not honoring God with our worship. 

Worship is our response to a God who loves us! It should not be a religious activity we check off our to-do list or to impress others. God wants our hearts. God wants us.

As you read Psalm 47 below, respond in prayer and worship using the 4/4 prayer model Daniel Henderson teaches in his book, Transforming Prayer.

• Reverence: Thank and praise God for who He is, His character, and His attributes.
• Response: Respond by surrendering to Him in obedience: Because of who You are, I will …

• Requests and confessions: I ask for …
• Readiness: As we prepare to enter our day in the spiritual war zone, pray about your battles and struggles. 

Psalm 47 NLT

¹ Come, everyone! Clap your hands!
    Shout to God with joyful praise!
² For the Lord Most High is awesome.
    He is the great King of all the earth.
³ He subdues the nations before us,
    putting our enemies beneath our feet.
⁴ He chose the Promised Land as our inheritance,
    the proud possession of Jacob’s descendants, whom he loves.

⁵ God has ascended with a mighty shout.
    The Lord has ascended with trumpets blaring.
⁶ Sing praises to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises!
⁷ For God is the King over all the earth.
    Praise him with a psalm.
⁸ God reigns above the nations,
    sitting on his holy throne.
⁹ The rulers of the world have gathered together
    with the people of the God of Abraham.
For all the kings of the earth belong to God.
    He is highly honored everywhere.