Something inside me resists when I hear a musician on stage on Sunday morning say, “Let’s do our worship time now.” As much as I love corporate praise through music, I feel that worship isn’t something we compartmentalize for 20 minutes on Sunday morning. Rather, it’s a lifestyle and it influences everything we do. Everything. Even exercise.
The importance of caring for my physical well-being has assumed new meaning for me in the past couple of years, especially after losing my mobility for several months in 2013. Romans 12:1 further strengthens my resolve—“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?”
It’s easy to make excuses for not exercising. Believe me, I know this is true. How often have I looked at my day’s schedule and said, “I’m too busy for a walk. I’ll do it tomorrow instead”? It’s also easy to make excuses for eating foods that taste good even though they don’t properly nourish my body. But the fact that Christ has purchased me with His blood and I belong to Him changes everything.
My body belongs to God. It’s the temple in which His Holy Spirit dwells, and I’m a steward assigned to care for it. Exercising it and feeding it properly, then, becomes an act of worship. That mentality makes going to the gym a pleasure (seriously!). It makes saying no to sugary desserts much easier than in the past. Worship as a lifestyle is changing my life, and I’m lovin’ it!
How about you? How does worship as a lifestyle impact you today?
I hadn’t really thought about this in terms of worship (though I think it is) but lately I’ve been more conscious of my thoughts and of having my thinking be more pleasing to God. I was reminded of this when I read Psalm 51:10-12 the other day. With my dad dying in February it’s easy to fall into sadness or anger; part of grieving I realize yet not good to stay there. And even with other relationships I find I more quickly get ‘ticked off’ for some reason. So my prayer has been those verses … and ‘Realign my thoughts with Yours God so that I think thoughts honouring to You and think Your thoughts (Your truth).’
Aligning your thoughts with God’s is an act of worship. We’re to love Him with all our heart, soul, MIND, and strength, and that’s what you’re doing when you’re seeking to honor Him with your thoughts. Thanks for sharing, Alison.
I see what you’re saying about worship being a lifestyle. I agree, and I can see that now. So then, we would live as though “someone” is always watching us.!!! The thought of “having our worship time together” in church can be annoying……of course, they mean the singing and music, etc.
That is the actual, intentional worship we do together, “unto God”, when it’s done correctly…………..but I also find that in many churches, the singing does not come across as “unto God”, but often a talent show, and so many songs sung solo that we can’t join in on. Our fellowship together is to be an act of worship too.
Grace, I love your response the first comment. It just kind of rounds it alll up. Bless the Lord, O, my soul………………….
Thanks for sharing, Marge. On this topic, my prayer is that I would never compartmentalize worship into specific times but rather integrate every moment of the day into worship. When my kids were babies, I remember praying that God would help me turn the mundane tasks into acts of worship (i.e.: changing diapers, wiping up spilled apple juice, picking up toys). I’ve asked Him to help me turn household chores like vacuuming or cleaning bathrooms into acts of worship. Doing so sure keeps my attitude more pleasant!