The Habit of Worship

by Macy Johnson

“All the angels were standing around the throne

and around the elders and the four living creatures.

They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God.”

(Revelation 7:11 NIV)

 

A young woman climbed on board a train and sat next to an elderly woman. “Where are you going?” she asked. I tossed that visual in my mind for several minutes before I asked myself the same question, “Where am I going? Where is the Holy Spirit leading me?”

 

My prayer walk takes me through a piece of the Oconee National Forest, up and down hills, across deer paths, and through insect swarms. When I get ready for my walk, I ask myself, “Why am I doing this? Is it for my physical and spiritual health or is it just out of habit?”

 

Worship is either a habit in our lives or it isn’t. Either we have a passion for spending time with our Lord, or we don’t. Oswald Chambers wrote, “Whenever the Holy Ghost sees a chance of glorifying Jesus, He will take your heart, your nerves, your whole personality, and simply make you blaze and glow with devotion to Jesus Christ.” Do you feel the Spirit drawing you into the flames of worship? Are we habitually drawn to Him? Our Creator God sets us free from harmful habits in order to develop the habit of worship.

 

One Wednesday evening at choir practice Kathleen Bryant suggested, “Let’s stop and breathe in, hold, and release slowly.” During Sunday morning corporate worship services we stop and breathe in God’s word, His presence, and His power. Then, throughout the week we slowly release small amounts of the concentrated nourishment from the Spirit into our daily personal devotions.

 

I will develop the habit of corporate and personal worship today, tomorrow, forever. I hope you will, too!