Four Final Reasons to Make Worship A Priority

Peppered throughout Scripture are accounts of God’s responses to worshipping people. Everywhere God’s people worship, God shows the warmth of his gracious presence and the strength of his mighty power (e.g., Abraham, Genesis 22; Jehoshaphat, 2 Chronicles 20; Daniel, Daniel 1, 2, 5; and Peter and Paul, Acts 12 and 16 to name a few). This morning, I conclude a three-week focus on worship with four more reasons to make worship a priority. As with my previous emails, I have included a few Scripture references for study and reflection.

Reason #7: Worship promotes the supernatural.
The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” (Acts 12:6–11)
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. (Acts 16:25–26)

Reason #8: Worship satisfies our loneliness.
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11)
God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. (Psalm 68:6)
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

Reason #9: Worship exchanges our woes for His words.
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. (Jeremiah 31:13)
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever. (Psalm 30:11–12)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5–6)
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. (Revelation 21:4)

Reason #10: Worship protects us from the adversary.
For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. (Deuteronomy 20:4)
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)
The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. (Psalm 37:40)
Then will I ever sing praise to your name and fulfill my vows day after day. (Psalm 61:8)
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10, NKJV)

I’m sure you hear the resounding message — trust in God’s immense grace and gratitude for God’s faithful shepherding. No wonder the Apostle Paul’s heart overflowed with worship, albeit in a Philippian prison cell; even there, he basked in Christ’s grace, God’s love and Holy Spirit’s fellowship. And as always happens to people who worship God, things changed because God works all things together for the good of those who love him.

May God lavish the riches of his grace upon you as you worship him!