WORSHIP IN A SELFIE WORLD
Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
Psalm 115:1 (NIV)
When we worship God, we align ourselves with
the truth that He is at the center of all things.
Ruth Haley Barton (Sacred Rhythms)
Think for a minute about the things that capture your attention. Beautiful things. Things that inspire awe. We traveled out west for our honeymoon and were continually in wonder at the stunning landscape. I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember being completely taken aback by the Grand Canyon (the pull of gravity literally took my breath away). Red Rock was… well, more red than I ever imagined. The Painted Desert seemed to stretch endlessly across Arizona — a breathtaking, vibrant tapestry of rust, gold, amber, and pastel. Even the planes that landed above the sparkling bay and city skyline of San Diego were incredible to watch.
The reality is, none of those things were about me. Maybe that’s what made them so beautiful. I didn’t have anything to do with how they got there or how breathtaking they were. They were there before we arrived, and I suspect they’re still there now. They were outside of us. They were bigger than us. Way bigger. Sights like this draw our attention beyond ourselves to something greater.
This is difficult to grasp, however, in a world of selfies. In case you don’t know, a selfie is a photo you take of yourself. If you’re taking a selfie, the focus is on you. If you’re sharing a selfie, it’s likely because you want someone else to focus on you. Worship is different. Worship draws the worshipper to focus on something outside of themselves. The word worship comes from the idea of worth-ship, declaring the worth of God. It’s the overflow of a life captivated by God’s worth. He is at the center. Not us.
APPLICATION: Take time to look at something beautiful today. Walk through the woods. Hike to a waterfall. Or simply sit and listen to the birds. Allow that time to draw your eyes beyond yourself, and ultimately to the Creator. This will be an act of worship that deepens your relationship with God.
PRAYER: Lord, when I come to worship, help me fix my eyes on You and not on myself. Take away my distractions, my desire for approval, and my self-conscious thoughts. Let my heart be fully absorbed in You–Your glory, Your goodness, Your presence. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?