Devotional: Worship

The Lord said: These people approach me with their speeches to honor me with lip-service yet their hearts are far from me, and human rules direct their worship of me.        -Isaiah 29:13 (CSB)

Have you ever had someone tell you something very nice to your face, but then when they are whispering behind your back, you find out they are saying mean things? It happens a lot. People do not always say what they mean, think, or feel. It happens in schools, work places, and sometimes even at church. Sometimes we do it to God. We say "Praise God in the storm!" and turn and utter blasphemes in the aftermath.

God knows our hearts, he doesn't have to hear our words, but he likes to hear them. When we stick so strictly to the man made rules of worship in our churches, we forget how to really worship God. It is our actions and our hearts that we use to praise God. These are the tools we should be using to worship.

From bible.com

Sticking to "the way it's always been" means nothing to a God who sings new songs. Let's not let human made rules keep us from giving our hearts to the Lord. Do not let your praise and worship be only lip-service, but put your whole heart into life-service for God.

Lord, may the actions of my life and heart praise you.