The bell rang at a small, country church, announcing to the quiet community Sunday morning had come. As the people filed into the sanctuary, Eleanor joined them. With her silver hair tied neatly in a bun, she made her way slowly but purposefully toward her favorite seat in the church. Though her eyes had dimmed with age, they radiated a profound sense of peace and joy.
Eleanor’s life was no stranger to trials and tribulations. She had faced loss, pain and countless hardships. Yet she had not been saddened or discouraged by these circumstances. She gave thanks and honor to the God who had sustained her joy and peace. A smile spread across her face as she prayed. It was a testament to her faith that had weathered the storms of life — and had created within her heart a love for her God!
That is true worship!
True Worship Responds
Eleanor demonstrated true worship is not merely a ritual; it is a heartfelt response to the overwhelming love and faithfulness of God. This was counterintuitive, considering the experiences which had shaken her life. Instead of bitterness, she expressed joy; instead of discouragement, she had a sense of calmness. She exemplified William Temple’s definition of worship: “To quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God” (emphasis added).
True worship is a result of our relationship with God. It is what Henry Blackaby describes as “experiencing the presence of God.” The experience of God’s presence creates a desire to worship Him. Whether we know it or not, God is interested in us and desires to make Himself known to us. In Luke 11:13, Jesus said, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
God wants to be a Friend like no other to us. When we become conscious of His love, we learn it is not temporary or conditional, but everlasting. In showing His grace to Israel in their exile, He said to them, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3b) God’s love is not performance-driven or based on our worthiness but on His unchanging nature. It is unchanging even when we fail, are made aware of our shortcomings or when embarrassing doubts randomly attack us.
True Worship Delights
This truth about God’s love causes us to delight in Him. Delight is a profound sense of joy and pleasure. It is finding our deepest satisfaction and joy in Him above all else. It’s more than just a fleeting emotion; it is a posture of our hearts. The beauty of God is, when we truly delight in Him, our desire aligns with His will and we experience the fullness of His love and grace in our lives. This motivates our worship, which is God’s ultimate purpose for us.
Eleanor’s worship was not just an act; it was the embodiment of a life which had experienced the love and presence of God. Her devotion stemmed from a profound experience of God’s grace. Her relationship with God fueled her worship and filled her heart with an indescribable joy.
As we remember Eleanor’s example, may her story motivate us to develop a deeper relationship with God allowing our worship to flow naturally from the fullness of His love and grace in our lives.
Article by Dr. L.W. Edwards
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