The first year we went on tour with Grace Like Rain, we had a t-shirt that said Breathe Worship. The idea came out of this chapter, Romans 12, specifically the very first verse.
“Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1 NIV)
The idea that worship had nothing to do with music was revolutionary to me. And yet, here was a verse which distinctly talked about worship but mentioned not one thing about music. It is completely about God and being God’s. To offer our lives as our worship, specifically to offer our bodies. Every act, every movement was to be a sacrifice to God. Which meant that worship wasn’t something I did on Sundays. It was something that was intrinsically a part of every single thing I did. It was like breathing. Breathing is not something you put on the calendar to make sure you fit it in. It is something you do as an integral part of everything else you do. I think Paul is trying to say that worship is like that as well. We don’t just show up, sing some songs, then go back to not worshipping. We worship in everything we do. God is just as deserving of honor and praise when I am brushing my teeth as when I have the amps cranked to 11 singing everyone’s favorite song.
Worship is continual, but it is also purposeful. “Offer your bodies” is intentional. I want to learn to give God all that I am every moment. To do it on purpose. To recognize His worth is the most mundane tasks. I want to offer myself to Him continually. It’s hard. I walk through much of my life without thinking of Him at all. But I am asking Him to change that. And I believe He can.
Thoughts?
Todd
It seems that what breathing, worship, and prayer have in common is they need to be done continuously–without stopping–in order to thrive and be fully alive. Thank God, most of us don’t have to worry about the breathing part. He made that a natural reflex. But the other two, worship and prayer, take some effort. I wonder why it is so hard? Could it be a lack of love on my part or that I love myself or other things more? Is it significant that God loves us enough to keep us breathing, but allows us the choice to return that love?
Worship is closely related to surrender;
in fact I believe they’re almost synonymous.
May your day be blessed!!