Worshipping God is central to the Christian faith. As creatures made in God’s image, we were created for relationship with Him. Worship is the natural response to encountering God’s presence and reflects our desire to honor and glorify Him. Here are some key reasons why worshipping God is important:
God is Worthy of Our Worship
God alone is supremely worthy of our worship. He is the eternal, self-existent Creator who spoke the universe into being (Genesis 1:1). Everything we see, including our very lives, is a gracious gift from Him. God is perfectly holy (Isaiah 6:3), infinitely powerful (Jeremiah 32:17), and possesses complete knowledge and wisdom (Psalm 139:1-6). He isconstant in love and faithfulness towards His people (Psalm 136). Worship rightly ascribes glory, honor and praise to God for who He is and what He has done.
Worship Aligns Our Hearts with God’s Will
Worship orients our hearts towards God’s desires and kingdom purposes. Through worship, we surrender our own agendas and seek God’s will above all else. Jesus taught that we must worship God “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24), with authenticity and according to His Word. As we worship, our minds are transformed and renewed (Romans 12:2) to align more closely with God’s heart. Submitting to Him in worship keeps us from idolatry and instead positions us to joyfully obey His commands.
Worship Reminds Us of God’s Love and Grace
God initiated relationship with us not because we deserved it, but out of His generous love and mercy. The act of worship continually reminds us that we can approach God because of what Christ accomplished on the cross. Jesus said that true worshippers “worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks” (John 4:23). As we worship, we remember the incredible grace that allows us to boldly enter God’s presence (Hebrews 10:19-22). This cultivates gratitude and devotion to God.
Worship Expresses Our Love for God
Worship is the natural response to comprehending even a small glimpse of God’s beauty, glory and character. It is the outward expression of an inner affection for God. When we taste of God’s kindness towards us, we cannot help but overflow with praise and adoration for Him. Our longings for intimate relationship can only be satisfied through loving and worshipping God. As we delight in Him, we echo the words of the Psalmist: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” (Psalm 73:25)
Worship Brings Us Joy and Refreshment
True worship of God enlivens and renews us. When discouraged, David “worshipped the Lord and blessed his name” (1 Chronicles 29:20). As he focused on God’s greatness, David was invigorated with joy and hope. Lifting our eyes to behold the splendor and majesty of God (Psalm 63:1-2) fills us with inexpressible joy and peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). We were wired to find our satisfaction in God. As we worship Him, our souls discover the ultimate source of delight and refreshment.
Worship Fuels Passion for God’s Mission
Worship stirs our affections for God’s salvific mission in the world. As we reflect on Christ’s sacrifice that made worship possible, we are compelled to share this good news with others. Jesus said the Father is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). Therefore, worship propels evangelism, missions and justice as we join God’s redemptive work. The doxology of worship on earth echoes the eternal worship around God’s throne (Revelation 4:8-11).
Worship Foreshadows Eternity with God
Our worship on earth is a preview of the eternal worship we will experience in God’s presence. Revelation portrays scenes of saints worshipping around the throne, singing praises to the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 5:9-14). As we gather in worship here and now, we join that heavenly chorus. Through worship, the Spirit gives us a taste of the glory yet to come. Our longing for that endless worship drew us to Christ and now compels us to exalt Him with our lives.
Worship Brings Glory to God
Most importantly, we worship because God is supremely glorified when we ascribe to Him the worship He alone deserves. 1 Chronicles 16:28-29 urges, “Ascribe to the Lord…the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.” Our worship adds nothing to God, yet mysteriously brings Him glory and pleasure. God created humanity to display His worth and beauty to all creation. As we magnify the greatness of God, we fulfill this high calling.
In summary, worshipping God realigns our minds and hearts with His truth and desires. Worship reminds us of God’s grace, fuels passion for His mission, and foreshadows eternity in His presence. Above all, worship brings glory to God as we rightly reverence Him for who He is and what He has done. Made to live in relationship with our Creator, we find purpose and joy as we offer our whole lives as an act of worship to the One who alone is worthy.
