I think we’d all agree that there are things that can distract us from the experience of worship. Thinking specifically of Sunday mornings, we may get distracted by crying babies, technical difficulties, music styles, worries from the week past or the week to come, etc. When we speak of worship leaders, we are usually referring to the musical worship, and we may judge the music to be not “worshipful” enough or just not our style, and we label anyone who is “different.”
But something new occurred to me this week. Though we may say that the music “distracted me from worship,” have you ever had times when worship distracted you from the music? That’s what happened to me Sunday. As we opened the service with prayer, my prayer was “Fill my emptiness.” Then during the music the phrase “fill my life again” came up in one of the songs “coincidentally.” In that moment, I was aware of nothing but God’s filling presence and power. That phrase could have occurred in any of a hundred different songs or Scriptures, and the style of music had nothing to do with my worship. For at least a brief moment, worship distracted me from the music and everything else.
I wonder what it would take for us to realize that as the true definition of worship? Worship is not a programmed set of events or a specific time of the week. Worship is our response to God’s invitation to know Him, love Him, and experience His presence in our lives each and every day. Worship—focusing on God—should distract us from our problems, priorities, and preferences. If any of those things are distracting us from “worshiping,” our focus is on the wrong person (either ourselves or others).
It’s understandable that we get distracted. After all, we are fallen people living in a fallen world. And when we come together for corporate worship, it is good to try to minimize the distractions as much as we are able. But even the best of human actions can’t guarantee that we will become fully aware of God’s presence for that period of time. It’s not that God isn’t there (since we know He is everywhere), or that we are not pleasing to Him (because He loves us more than we know). The biggest problem is that we are trying to look through a glass that is clouded by doubt, fear, misconceptions, self-centeredness, and every other form of sin. Once in awhile God clears a little spot in the glass and we get a glimpse of His glory. It may happen in a worship service or in the beauty of nature, while listening to the radio in rush hour traffic or holding a newborn baby, while singing, praying, reading, serving, or simply being still.
My challenge for myself (and anyone who wants to join me) is to make every effort to focus my attention on the One who is worthy of all worship, and to let go of all that would distract me from Him. That may require some changes in priorities and practices. I need to spend more time in prayer and less time watching TV. I need to read more books that remind me of who God is and fewer books that are only vaguely entertaining. I need to stop judging those who are different from me and start seeking the One who calls us all His children. I need to prepare my heart and mind for worship by confessing my sin and remembering His love and forgiveness. And I need to pray for myself and others who are assembling for worship that we will be led to seek His face. (Another “coincidence”—as I finished writing this the radio in the office was playing Matt Redman’s “Heart of Worship. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-Zp586pvZg )
“Sing to the Lord, bless His name; tell of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, He is to be feared above all gods…Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth!” (Psalm 96:2-4,9).
