A massive part of our relationship with God as Christians is expressing worship to Him, especially when we gather as believers for church services. Have you ever wondered what to do during those worship times? Never fear! Here are some tips to help you connect with God and practically participate in corporate worship, whether you’re musical or not.
1. Sing it
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High.”
(Psalm 92:1)
While music and singing are not the only way to worship God, it is a huge part of how worship is expressed in our faith and in our church gatherings. When songs of worship are being sung at church, sing along if you’re able.
Yes, even if you’re not a gifted singer. 🙂 God loves the sound of His children’s voices lifted to Him in worship. No one else can sing your song to God for you or praise Him with your voice.
Usually, churches are able to put lyrics on screens to help you sing the songs. Singing along during the congregational singing is a powerful and simple way to step out and engage in worship.
I would encourage you to step out even a little further. Not only sing the composed songs that are being sung during worship but learn to step out and sing the spontaneous or Spirit-inspired song of your heart to the Lord as well.
When songs of worship are being sung at church, sing along if you’re able. God loves the sound of His children’s voices lifted to Him in worship. No one else can sing your song to God for you or praise Him with your voice.Click To TweetIn the New Testament, both Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 exhort us to sing spiritual songs to God just like we sing composed songs and sing Scripture to Him. Singing spontaneous song to God is a biblical and valid expression of worship to God.
Instrumental breaks in worship songs are great moments to do this. You can do so quietly under your breath, just between you and God. Or, if the entire room is lifting their voices in spontaneous song to God together you can sing out with a little more volume.
At church and in your personal time with God, why don’t you try “going off book” and putting spontaneous melody to the Bible verses or thoughts and phrases of praise and thanks that come to your heart as you worship God.
2. Say it
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!”
(Psalm 107:1-2)
Remember those Bible verses exalting God’s character, and those phrases of praise/thanksgiving that stir in your heart during worship? You can speak those things out from your heart and your mouth straight to God’s heart. Don’t just “think” your praise, actually say it to God. You can even lift up a shout to God with your voice as a form of praise too.
I love the way Pastor Travis Waltner of Embrace Church framed it in this message: “verbalize your enjoyment of God.” You and I can actually say to God, “Thank You for Your mercy. God, You are kind and You are faithful. God, thank you for Your provision this week, etc.”
Don't just 'think' your praise, actually say it to God.Click To Tweet3. Show it
“I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.”
(Psalm 84:2)
Have you ever thought about the fact that you can praise God with your entire being? In this psalm, David helps us learn that we can engage God in worship with our souls (or emotions) and our bodies.
Singing and speaking out praise are ways we can physically express our worship, but here are some other ways: dancing, lifting our hands, kneeling, bowing, clapping, stillness. Read through the book of Psalms in the Bible and you’ll see plenty of examples of postures of worship and how God’s people have expressed worship to God throughout the ages.
I would take Pastor Travis’ quote from the previous section a step further and say not only verbalize your enjoyment of God with your words but externalize your enjoyment of God to Him with the posture of your body.
If you’re not from a more expressive tradition or denomination of Christianity like I am, doing this may seem out of your comfort zone a bit. Can I encourage you, though? Why don’t you take a step of faith with Jesus and let Him teach you to worship Him in new ways? His heart will be moved and you’ll grow in your relationship with Him.
If you want to learn more about the postures of worship, worship leader and songwriter Chris Tomlin and Pastor Darren Whitehead unpack the seven Hebrew words for praise in the Bible and how they teach us to express worship to God in their book, Holy Roar. Spark by Jeff Deyo is another great book on worship that I highly recommend, especially for worship leaders and team members.
Worship Isn’t Just Corporate, It’s Personal
Every way you can engage in worshipping God in a gathering of believers, you can do in your private and personal time with God too. I’d challenge you to develop a practice of worshipping God alone, not just worshipping Him at church.
Some of the sweetest moments that have deepened my relationship with God have been in the privacy of my room. Playing guitar or listening to worship music and singing along, praying Psalms back to Him, learning to enjoy His presence and express my worship to Him when it’s just Him and me.
I encourage you to step out into the many ways there are to worship God. He is worthy of your praise and you were created to worship Him.
Let’s Talk: What helps you engage in worshipping God alone or alongside other believers? Discuss this post in the comments below.
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