Worship A Posture Of The Heart

Worship is a posture of the heart.

When I hear the word “worship,” my mind wanders to singing and church. Worship may involve singing, but it actually has nothing to do with the heart of worship. Worship is a posture. Psalm 95 is a beautiful oration of words to describe a posture of worship as one would approach the presence of God. Let these observations from the psalmist inspire us to take the same posture.

“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise.” (verse 2)

Consider for a moment what this may have meant to the audience hearing these words. They knew God’s presence to be one place, the temple. These words were an invitation to move towards the temple and the presence of God. As they walked toward the temple, it was posture of thankful movement, expressed with great noise and songs of praise!

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” (verse 6)

The psalmist now describes a moment of arrival before the presence of God. Unlike the journey toward the temple, this is a somber moment. In this moment worship is no longer walking and shouting, rather it is kneeling and bowing. Two movements toward God in worship: one that includes singing and joyful noise, the other is kneeling and bowing in reverence. Both are a posture of worship.

The focus of worship all along is the adoration of God and our heart’s response. Our very posture is a reflection of how our heart responds to God. As you move towards God’s presence in worship take careful inventory of your heart. Till the soil of your heart until it is able to receive God in such a way that worship, regardless of posture, is the great produce growing from within!

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

    let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;

    let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

For He is our God

    and we are the people of His pasture

    and the sheep of his hand 

Today, if you hear His voice 

    do not harden your hearts.

Psalm 95:2,6-8a

Written by Associate, Dave Mergens