Nine Steps to Restoring a Heart for Worship
VJ Traven
The unquenchable flame of passion for Christ burning in the hearts of the saints spreads a sweet aroma of worship before God in heaven. A true worshipper’s heart and head is deeply engaged with God uninterruptedly. Worship always sanctifies the worshipper when he redefines his commitment according to the perfect will of God for Him. The more deeply you worship like this, the more Christ like you become. You can write a thousand books about worship in truth and spirit and still completely fail to please God in your personal worship. If you are driven by a desire to stay in love with Jesus endlessly, your worship will restore the glory of God in you. A true worshipper will always connect and enter the throne room of God to celebrate His presence. When churches fail to do this God stops rejoicing in them, there the house of prayer becomes a den of thieves.
Thankless hearts do loveless worship and create lifeless churches. These days, on a Sunday you see more pretenders than worshippers. The manifest presence of God never visits such places and people, because they worship in vain without meeting up with God face to face. If you have lost your joy in worship, you can return to God with true repentance and rebuild your worship as a lifestyle.
* Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
* Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
* Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
* Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
* Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
* Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
* Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
* Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
* Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matt 5:3-12
Meditating the beatitudes in Matthew chapter 5, I found nine spiral steps that takes you higher and closer to the presence of God. Nine steps complete one circle and takes you to the top of one floor and you see step one in the next floor again.
The first step: Climb With A Humble Heart
Blessed are the poor in the spirit. Many people never even started the worship because they have never climbed the first step humility. If you don’t humble yourself, you cannot give God the glory. If you don’t humble yourself again you will worship yourself. To receive God’s favor and grace, humble yourself before the One who is worthy to be praised. Worship God, because God exists without your worship when your life and eternity completely depend on Him alone.
The second step: Climb With A Thanksgiving Heart
Blessed are those who mourn. You mourn as you climb step two which is brokenness because you have disappointed God in worshipping with a hard heart. Remember Jesus and His sacrifice for you at Calvary, come to Him and be broken before Him. Offer you devotion and with thanksgiving tears that wash the feet of Jesus. Be broken, ready to break the alabaster jar of worship, ready to anoint your Lord with everlasting joy. It is easy to bear the fruit of repentance when you are broken. Brokenness is the key to nearness with God.
The Third Step: Climb With A Gentle Heart
Blessed are the meek. Gentleness is the outward expression of an inward humility. Gentleness is also power under control. Gentleness is your commitment to stay humble without misusing your position in Christ. Gentleness is the fruit of awareness about your citizenship in heaven so you stay calm or stand still and show maturity. Gentleness is to give God the glory regardless of what you are going through. Climb step three gentleness with sensitivity, because worship can be loud and explosive or calm and silent. A gentle heart can be filled with peace that surpasses all understanding so that you can inherit the earth
The Fourth Step : Climb With A Hungry Heart
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. In the presence of the living God there is fullness of joy. Lack of hunger and thirst can lead you to emptiness and dryness because there is no filling with the indwelling presence of God. Worship is a real encounter with God. Be aware of Gods promises to a worshipper.
"Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires let him take the water of life freely. Rev 22:17
Obey the word, wait and claim your inheritance. The kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force. Climb step four hunger and thirst to receive more of Him every time when you worship.
The Fifth Step: Climb With A Merciful Heart
Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy. You heart will be filled with bitterness if you have an unforgiving heart. It hardens your heart and your focus on Jesus will become distorted.
"leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Matt 5:24
Be reconciled with your brother and climb the fifth step kindness to enter the throne room of God. Unforgiveness can disconnect you from the Lord.
The Sixth Step: Climb With A Pure Heart
Blessed are the pure in heart. Unclean thoughts can blind you. It can block your vision and you cannot worship in the beauty of His holiness, remember God is holy and he has called you to stay holy. One of the meaning behind the word ‘pure’ is to with motive – that your heart is free of impure motives. Guard your heart with all your strength and come to his presence with pure motives. Climb the sixth step holiness with a pure heart and clean hands.
“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart…” Ps 24:3-4
The Seventh Step: Climb With A Peaceful Heart
Blessed are the peace makers. A quarrelsome person cannot worship because peace takes a major role in worship. If you are not right with God and men you cannot climb the seventh step peace. The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. The greatest peace maker is Jesus. He became our peace by carrying the curse on the cross for us. Peace is your security. Peace is your willingness to stay silent even when you are completely right and your persecutor completely wrong. You have peace when you know deep within you are hidden in Christ. Peace makers become preachers because their lives reveal they are not ashamed of the Gospel because the Gospel reconciles the listeners with God and gives them peace.
The Eighth Step : Climb With A Persevering Heart
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness. An impatient person never enters the throne room of God and kisses the Son in his worship. Persecution is there inside and outside the church. Have mercy, show patience, do God’s will and earnestly wait upon the Lord, don’t give up till he shows up. Climb step eight patience with a perseverant heart. Imitating someone is the greatest form of worship. While showing patience you imitate Jesus and worship Him in truth and spirit.
The Ninth Step: Climb With A Rejoicing Heart
Blessed are those who rejoice in their sufferings for the kingdom of God. When you are mocked and persecuted or rejected you consider it as a blessing to partake in the sufferings of Christ. Paul and Silas when locked up in prison in stead of complaining turned to God and worshipped Him. Climb ninth step joy with a rejoicing heart even in disturbing circumstances.
Going Higher
Climbing these nine steps in worship will bring you to a ‘restored’ place in worship. With these nine attitudes of the heart, you will find your self bearing the fruit of the spirit with nine its attributes. Go on flying with the Holy Spirit who will take you to new heights, taking you away with Him to the heart of Father God, who longs to reveal deeper things to you and open up more to you as you worship Him. Amen.
