The Joy of the Journey
Preparing Our Hearts to Worship
Worshipping God is an essential part of the Christian Walk. It is a time when we come before the Almighty God to offer Him our praise, thanksgiving, and praise. But to truly worship God in spirit and in truth, we must first prepare our hearts. So, let us explore the importance of preparing our hearts for worship through the timeless wisdom found in Scripture.
Scripture teaches us that we must examine our hearts before approaching God in worship and repent of sins or wrongdoings. Repentance and humility are the keys to bringing acceptable worship to God. In Psalm 51:10, David cries out to God, saying, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” This verse reminds us of the importance of a contrite and humble heart before God. In James 4:8, we are urged to “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” As we humble ourselves and confess our sins before God, He promises to cleanse us and draw us close to Him. We must remember He wants us to be close to Him. But to be near Him, we must be cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
One way we prepare our hearts for worship is through Prayer and Meditation.
Prayer is a powerful tool for preparing our hearts for worship. Matthew 6:6 says, “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Jesus instructs us to go into our room, close the door, and pray to our Father who is unseen. This private, intimate time with God helps us to align our hearts with His will and seek His presence. Similarly, meditating on God’s Word helps us to focus our minds and hearts on Him. In Psalm 119:11, the psalmist declares, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Meditating on Scripture can cultivate a heart and sensitivity to God’s leading and guidance.
Gratitude is critical to preparing our hearts for worship. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we are reminded to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” We cultivate a heart of thanksgiving by acknowledging God’s goodness and faithfulness in our lives. When we approach God with a heart full of thanksgiving and praise, our worship becomes a sweet offering unto Him. This means even during difficult times, when we have a hard time thinking of what to be thankful for. We have to dig deep and find a heart of Thanksgiving and gratitude.
Preparing our hearts for worship also involves expecting to encounter God’s presence. In Psalm 5:7, David says, “ But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.” As we approach God with a sense of expectancy and reverence, we open ourselves up to experiencing His glory and power in our midst. In Hebrews 12:28-29, we are reminded, “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, for our God is a consuming fire.” Keeping a sense of reverence and awe helps us approach God with humility and reverence.
In closing, preparing our hearts for worship is vital to our Christian Walk. By repenting of our sins, engaging in prayer and meditation, cultivating gratitude and praise, and approaching God with expectation and reverence, we can create a sacred space for encountering the Holy Spirit in worship. As we strive to align our hearts with His will and purposes, may our worship be a pleasing and acceptable offering unto Him. Let us heed the words of Psalm 95:6, “ Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.” Remember, we can worship God anytime, anyplace. So why not make wherever you’re now a place of worship.
