Cure for the Thirsty Christian

The Heart of *true* worship

Why is it today that church has become so fake? The people have become so dead. The music repetitive. The worship routine. The prayers empty. What happened to the church that was on fire? How is it that we have become so callused to God and true worship? When was it that worshipping the God of Heaven and Earth became such a chore? I'm just a human, I can't answer these questions. Questions that arise because I have to live with it. Questions that burden me so much because I can't find the answer. Questions that are there because I'm not sure if I can fix it. What has worship become? Just a bunch of songs on a screen. Words made up by man to "glorify" God. Where is the heart? Where is the passion? Worship was designed as a way to praise God, but now it is a talk-time or a few extra minutes that you can be late for church. Jesus said that if He didn't get the worship from His people, He would make the rocks cry out to Him. As Christians, we are not doing our jobs. Personally, I don't want a rock doing my job. Our purpose on this earth is to worship God. That is what we were created to do. God created us for a purpose, and that purpose is to glorify Him. It is ridiculous to think that when people sing, "we raise up holy hands…" or "more love, more power, more faith, more passion" we stand there and yawn. Where is the passion? We are singing praise to the Almighty God, the Creator, the Alpha and Omega, Powerful God. P-o-w-e-r-f-u-l God. The same God that calms storms, raises the dead, feeds 5,000 with 2 fish and 5 loaves. That God. Our words are empty, what does that say about our character? The Bible says out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. When you are speaking meaningless and empty words, does that mean that your heart is meaningless and empty? Are you as a person meaningless and empty? The same person that Jesus shed every ounce of His blood for on Calvary. The same person that He loved enough to make Himself human so He could go through life to understand you more. The same person that He was tempted, beaten, ridiculed, humiliated, and broken for. Yes, we are that person. Why don't we worship or even pray like that? We don't really pray because we are scared someone may hear us. We don't really pray because we are afraid of offending someone. We don't really pray because we just "aren't in the mood" or "don't have enough time". I am talking about real prayer. Prayer that ends with you on your knees. Prayer that raises conviction. Prayer that doesn't include, "well, please bless…, and I pray, uh, a…blessing over the day and the speaker…" BORING. I'm surprised God hasn't fallen asleep. He created you to pray a prayer that you can't even think of any words to say? Yet, when we start to talk about something like boyfriends/girlfriends, new movies, and so on, we can't shut up. Start not being able to shut up in prayer. That will get some attention. Put passion into it. Community prayer is also important. The type of prayer that God was talking about when He said in Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Do you think God is going to show up in a room with a bunch of dead beats? Or on the day of Pentecost when you had believers from all over the nation gathered together. People that didn't speak even the same language. God intervened. God showed up. The Holy Spirit came down and entered into these people. Then they were able to speak the same language and understood each other. When Christians gather (for the RIGHT reasons) God shows up. GOD. The real God. How awesome is that? Community prayer is so important because it is important to have a community of believers who are on the same page, who are searching for the same things. When you have a community of believer there for no Spiritual purpose, you get utter chaos. You get, hypothetically speaking, people who can't even understand one another. What happens when you have a group of people who are there for absolutely no Spiritual purpose whatsoever + a group of people who are there for Spiritual reasons but are too scared to do anything? You get a bunch of people standing around singing meaningless songs and praying prayers that they don't even mean. I doubt people really mean when they say, "God, please show up in this place". Because When God "really" shows up: things change, people change, heart change, and lives change. But change is hard. Why change when you can stay the same? Stay comfortable without any real spiritual responsibility? What is so wrong with staying the same? Well, for starters, you get so routine and so into a certain process that you eventually end up losing the fire. You lose what you really came to church for in the first place for. Change also brings conviction. And I'm not talking about, "oh I had an attitude last week, better work on that" type of conviction. I'm talking about, "wow, I'm a total fake when it comes to prayer/worship" type of convictoin. Conviction that stays in your head until your get rid of your sin. Conviction that drives you to your knees because you have no where else to go. Conviction that makes you realize that you are just another human being that is absolutely nothing. Conviction that makes you hunger and thirst because you have a fire that burns so heavily inside of you. True conviction. Webster's dictionary defines conviction as the state of being found and proven guilty; a fixed and firm belief. We've been found guilty. It is only by the grace of God that covers all sin that we are alive today. I believe it is a sin to say words like, "we raise up holy hands" and not raise your hands. It is like a blatant lie. To sing about how much we love God and sing about amazing grace, and stand there like a fool. You are not only hurting yourself, you are hurting everyone around you just because you "aren't in the mood", I'm sure Jesus "wasn't in the mood" to get beaten and nailed to a cross either. But He did. It isn't a matter of what mood you are in, it is your Spiritual responsibility to praise your Creator. People talk about how much they "want to see Bible-time miracles" well do something about it. Don't just talk about it. Learn how to really pray. Learn how to truly worship. Get on your face before your God and pour out your heart. And mean it for goodness sakes. Don't pray because you were picked on to do it, pray because you love God and you want to talk to Him. And you know what I find funny, God says He listens to ALL prayers. Even you fake ones. He is listening to your fake worship and your meaningless prayers and HE is waiting for truth and honesty. He is waiting for a second of it to be REAL. And He waits…and waits. Just like He is knocking on the door. Let Him in, fulfill His desire to hear your honesty. If it takes you looking like a fool, then be a fool for the Lord. If it takes you stepping out of your little comfort zone and doing something out of your character, then do it. If it takes your praying out loud in front of peers, then pray like you've never prayed before. "Yet at the core of TRUE worship is a life that gives up everything. Its not about what is in it for 'us', rather, its about beingbroken and humbled before the King of eternity as we lay down our lives and agendas before Him". Wow, being broken and humbled. Becoming Nothing so that He can be Everything. Worship is a lifestyle, real prayer a priority. Stop singing empty songs, and praying meaningless prayers. What are your motives when we worship/pray to God? Why are you doing it? Is it to show others how "spiritual" you are? Or is it because you don't want the rocks doing your job? Is it because you want to worship your God for Who He is and what He is doing in your life? If we lose sight of our God, we lose sight of worship/prayer all together? When two or more are gathered, there I am with them. Community worship isn't to show off your voice, or impress people with your Spirituality. Community worship is everyone, from every walk of life, lifting up one voice to our King. The King Who is still on the throne no matter what. And still takes the time to listen to you, meaningless or real. Isn't it about time that we get back to the true heart of worship? The center and the core of our Spiritual walk with God.