Thank you, Lord!

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Romans 12:1

For years, I thought to worship God meant singing loud with hands raised high. But because I didn’t particularly enjoy either of those things, I let it become an excuse not to pursue God with my full heart.

But worship is natural. Humankind has always demonstrated a need to worship something more powerful than themselves. God baked it into our DNA, and it’s reflected in countless ancient myths of every culture from around the world.

This intrinsic human need is still evident today. Whatever or whoever gets the most of our time, attention, and energy is the object of our worship, and we’re all guilty of it whether we realize it or not. In extreme cases, these things can influence our behavior, our values, and ultimately our beliefs.

The way I used to view worship wasn’t wrong. You don’t have to look further than Psalm 150:3–6 for proof. But worshipping our Lord is as much about music and song as it is the posturing of our hearts. We can have the loudest voices and the highest hands during church service, but if Christ doesn’t have our heart, our praise means nothing.

Think about this: if we’re willing to throw our hands in the air and shout praises for our favorite team when they make a great play, then how can we not have the same attitude and love towards a God that created the universe and everything in it, including us?

He’s our Father who, through Christ, saved us from death and gave us new life. This act of mercy fills my heart with joy, and I can’t think of a better reason to sing loud and raise my hands high.

Thank you, Lord!

Today’s author: Mark Henderson—Founder of The Inspired Legacy
Mark is a creative professional with more than 20 years of experience in the fields of web design and advertising. He also serves as the chief content officer at The Inspired Legacy, an online ministry dedicated to shining a light on God’s gift of parenthood. The organization aims to inspire and equip fathers to boldly lead their families, love their kids unconditionally, and leave a legacy of grown children that carry on these same traditions. Mark resides in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with his wife, Kimberly. Together, they have three children, two girls, and one boy.