“But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him" (John 4:23).

Countless are the church believers who imagine that the worship of God is all about singing, dancing and waving of hands. This understanding prevents them from genuine spiritual striving, for they consider that as far as worship is concerned, they have already done enough. In this, they are far removed from the truth.

To fear God and keep His commandments is the only duty of man on earth (Ecclesiastes 12:13). The Amplified Bible translation of the foregoing scripture, makes it clear, that to fear God means the same thing as to revere and worship Him. This means that to reverence and worship God is the only duty of man on earth. If the worship of God is the only thing that man on earth is called to do, it means, that worship means more than singing and dancing.

According to Mariam Webster's Dictionary, worship is honor, or reverence shown to a Divine Being. In the context of Christianity, this Divine Being is the Almighty Creator. Worship therefore, means, honor or reverence shown to the Almighty God. It means, total submission to His Will. Bear in mind, that the Will of God is His laws given to man in His Word, in the form of commandments and admonitions. To worship God therefore means, to submit to these laws. That is, to recognize and live in harmony with them.

There is no designated place for worship. To live harmoniously with the Will of God is something we must do every moment of our lives, not only when we gather with others in the name of worship. Within every man lies an altar for worship: “For you are the temple of the Living God” (2 Corinthians 6:16). Man is to submit to the Will of God at all times, and in every place, whether private or public. True worshippers worship the Father on the altar within. In the Words of Jesus, they worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). True worship streams from the inside out.

Worship is service rendered to the Almighty God. This service is the inward submission to His Will, that is obedience to His Word, not external commitments like: Church attendance, sanitation, decoration, the offering of tithes and gifts, or any other religious rites performed by people. You can do those things without rendering worship to God.

Worship is a life style! It is not just a momentary thing. It is living and continuous! It is our whole duty on earth. This means, that it is meant for every moment of our lives. In the lyrics of her song, Frances Ridley Havergal wrote: "Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord to thee:
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise."

The wordings of the above song make a prayer for man to live every moment of his life in the Will of God. Take My Moments and My Days, Let Them Flow in Ceaseless Praise, points to the fact that our activities in every moment and every day should be a ceaseless praise to our Creator. Expressed in other words, they should be pleasing to Him. Continual obedience to the Will of God is a constant Hymn of Praise to Him. The purest form of worship is to adapt oneself to the Will of the Almighty God in thoughts, words, and deeds! That is the sweetest song of praise.

Paul said you render your Spiritual worship when you present your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1). To present your body as a living sacrifice is to cease to conform to the pattern of this world (Romans 12:2). It is to be transformed by getting your heart renewed on the Word. For this to happen, you must absorb the Word of God and endeavor to do what It says, no matter how inconvenient it may seem. This means, that you must abstain from all that appears to be evil, in your thoughts, words and deeds. An individual who is able to do this, stands in the Will of God. He is a true worshipper and a Living Sanctuary.

In summation, living worship takes place on the altar of our hearts, but this does not negate the gathering of true believers for a solemn worship. What happens when people gather together for a solemn worship should be an expression of what has already taken place within the inner altar. The waving of hands, the kneeling and bowing down, are meant to express the submission to God’s Will, which expectedly,must have already taken place within. Without the inward submission and reverence which should be evident in our deeds, the outward demonstration is merely an empty performance; without life. We have to understand, that the Spirit and body can be unified, or divided in worship. When we consistently submit to the will of God, our spiritual worship flows from the inside, and unites with our physical expressions to make our worship whole. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

A choir leader who directs “praise and worship” in Church, but still engages in gossip, cheating, immorality, vengeance, or idolatry, cannot render true worship to God. A Pastor who lives a life different from what he professes, cannot be a true worshiper. The one who twists the gospel of Jesus Christ in order to advance his selfish course, does not render a reasonable service to God.

True worship is the gateway to Eternal Life. Our whole duty on earth is to work out our salvation, by understanding and doing the Will of God. This understanding and doing the Will of God is the worship we render to Him. I call to you therefore, to arise and seek the Lord while He may be found, for the time allotted for this is already far spent. Every hour of your earth-life is now more important than ever!