“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks” – John 4:23

Many people believe that worship only involves singing praises to God. While that is a beautiful aspect of worship, it goes deeper than that.

Matt Redman sang about this in the Heart of Worship:

“I’ll bring You more than a song, for a song in itself is not what You have required”

True worship is a heart posture, an act of surrender to God, and living in devotion to God.

What is Worship?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, to worship is to regard with great respect, honor, or devotion.

How does that apply to Christian worship?

Biblical Worship

Worship is devotion to the Lord. It means loving the Lord with all our minds, heart, and soul (Matthew 22:37).

It is the love language between our souls and God. When connected to their Creator, our souls find true peace and fulfillment.

Devotion to God signifies bringing glory to Him (1 Corinthians 10:31). A heart postured to honor the Lord considers Him in every aspect of life.

Worship is having a life centered around Jesus. Therefore, true worshippers acknowledge their dependence on Him (John 15:5). And as the psalmist said in Psalm 16:2, apart from God, we have no good thing.

To revere God is to love others. We cannot love God without loving people. The apostle John said that whoever says they love God but do not love their fellow human beings is a liar (1 John 4:20).

Worship is not about rituals, nor does it depend on circumstances. In the Old Testament, God rebukes the Israelites for following rituals while their hearts are far from Him (Isaiah 29:13). We adore God because of who He is. And if His nature does not change (Malachi 3:6), we do not stop worshipping.

Worship in Spirit and Truth

Isaiah 58 explains there is true and false worship. False worship centers on us, while true worship is all about God.

Worshipping in spirit means turning our focus from us and our surroundings to God. Our natural world does and should not block our devotion to the Lord.

True devotion involves continually seeking God. He promises that those who seek Him will find Him. He does not hide His face from those who seek Him earnestly (Jeremiah 29:13).

Worshipping in truth is worshipping according to the Word of God. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). We cannot serve or worship Him if we are not in His light.

As such, true worship requires honesty and transparency. 2 Timothy 3:5 condemns those who appear godly but live in a way that displeases God.

God knows we are not perfect. Nonetheless, He expects and invites us to come and live before Him in all transparency (Isaiah 1:18).

Our worship is unto Him and Him alone. We live to please Him and Him alone. We seek His will, counsel, and directives, not man’s.

Surrender as a Manifestation of Worship.

In Romans 12:1, the apostle Paul explains that our true and proper worship is to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice.

There can be no worship without a heart surrendered to the will and wisdom of God.

Understanding Surrender

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines surrender as ‘to give oneself up into the power of another.’ 

Without the knowledge and wisdom to live well, we are unable to fulfill life’s true potential.

The only solution is to release our control and surrender to the lordship of the Author of life.

True Surrender

Surrender usually happens in the context of war or opposition. It is a sign of defeat. There is almost always a loss. The surrendered party gains nothing (of importance compared to what they lost) in the process.

But it is not so when surrendering to God. Yes, there will be a sense of loss, because it is often a call to let go of things we feel deeply attached to. However, we gain much.

Jesus is a beautiful example of surrendering. He submitted to the Father’s will to go to the cross for humanity (Luke 22:42). This was not a weakness or defeat. In fact, He secured the salvation of humanity and gained victory over sin and death through His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

Surrendering is yielding our desires and plans to God’s will. We come out of the driver’s seat of our lives and let Him lead the way.

Throughout the Bible, we have examples of others who chose to surrender to God and His calling on their lives: Abraham (Genesis 22), Moses (Exodus 3), Mary (Luke 1), and Paul (Acts 9). Their call to surrender came at a cost, but through it, they discovered more of who God is and accomplished great deeds.

The Beauty of Surrender

Surrender is not easy. It is unnatural to us, because of the fall, to come under someone else’s authority. That’s why toddlers throw tantrums, teenagers rebel, and the people rise against governing authorities.

Moses did not immediately agree to God’s mission for Him (Exodus 3:11-14). He felt inadequate and unprepared for what lay ahead. But in the end, He became one of the greatest leaders humanity has ever known.

The walk with Christ is a daily submission. It is choosing to say no to our flesh, which is flawed and sinful, and saying yes to God whose will is good, pleasing, and perfect (Romans 12:2).

Surrendering to God implies letting go. We might have to let go of family, friends, possessions, or ourselves. It involves letting go of old thoughts, mindsets, habits, and practices.

But despite the cost, surrender is beautiful. Through it, we gain spiritual freedom and a deeper relationship with God. James 4:7-8 confirms that as we draw near to God, He draws near to us.

When we surrender to God’s will, we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and transform us into Christ’s image (2 Corinthians 3:18). 

Surrender brings joy and peace. Knowing that the Creator of the universe, the one who calms storms, parts seas, and defeats sin and death is the Lord of our life is truly amazing.

Surrender to God

In His love for humanity, Christ came on earth as a human, died on the cross, and paid the price for our sins. His resurrection and triumph over sin and death definitively restored our relationship with the Father (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).

When we fully understand the fullness of God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice, our natural response is to fall down in worship. 

When we truly understand who God is and His desire for a close relationship with us, we can’t help but yield everything to Him.

Our surrender to the Lord is an act of gratitude.

Yet, we cannot do it by our own strength. The matter of inner transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit. Thus we must seek His help in prayer (John 14:26).

Ask the Father to give you the desire and posture to surrender. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead as we often don’t know what we ought to pray for (Romans 8:26).

Beware not to rely on your feelings. You may not feel any difference, but trust the Lord to do His work (John 16:24).

Then, continually remind yourself of the following:

1. Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9): Jesus has ultimate authority over creation, the church, and individual believers. Commit to live under His sovereign rule. He desires to guide us, protect us, and provide for us. Seek His will in all aspects of our lives (Proverbs 3:5-6).
2. God is in Control (Psalm 115:3): Nothing happens outside His divine will and purpose. He works all things (the good, the bad, and the ugly) for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Trust in Him and surrender our all to Him. He gives peace and rest.
3. You no Longer Live for Yourself (2 Corinthians 5:15): Our identity and life’s mission are found in Christ rather than in our self-centered desires. Our purpose is rooted in the sacrificial love of Jesus. Let us live for Christ, not for ourselves.
4. Surrendering is Letting Go and Letting God: Let go of our selfish desires and let God transform us in His image. Let go of our will and let God perfect His will in our lives. Let go of sinfulness and let God clothe us in righteousness. Let go of fear and anxiety and let God bring peace and joy.

Living out Surrender and Worship

Surrender and worship are not a one-and-done event. They are not tasks to be fulfilled at random.

It is a lifestyle. 

It is part of our identity as Christians. 

It is a sign of our commitment to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

A life of Surrender and Worship

Becoming a true worshipper of God is staying in awe of Him.

He is God. 

He is Lord. 

He is Almighty. 

He is Holy. 

Jesus commands us to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). This is cultivated through worship and surrender.

Thus, as instructed in Proverbs 4:23, we guard our hearts against the world’s values and behaviors and align our thoughts and actions with God’s truth and Word.

Total submission to God is manifested through obedience, even when the command does not make sense.

A life of surrender and worship is visible. Jesus said you don’t light a lamp to put it under a bowl, nor a house on a hill be hidden (Matthew 5:14-16). When we live for Christ, it is shown through our words, behaviors, and actions.

We are called to live a life worthy of our Lord (Philippians 1:27). Our true worship is shown by exuding Christ-like character.

A life of surrender and worship brings glory to the Father.

Staying Connected to God

Apart from God, we can do nothing (John 15:5). Our surrender and worship unto God flow from our relationship with Him. And we surrender to the degree of our intimacy with Him.

Therefore, we must press into Him and continually seek Him. We can cultivate our connection with God through these principles:

1. Practicing spiritual disciplines (1 Timothy 4:7-8).
2. Being committed to honoring God in everything (1 Corinthians 10:31).
3. Being sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:5).
4. Having a Christ-centered mind and heart posture (Romans 8:5).

As we surrender to God and worship Him, we build a continuous connection to Him, allowing Him to direct our paths and transform us.

Daily Habits and Practices

Our reverence for the Lord is a heart posture. We can cultivate and maintain this heart posture through daily habits and practices:

• Read the Bible (Joshua 1:8): God instructed Joshua to meditate on His law day and night so He could prosper and be successful. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that The Word has been given to us for teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction. Therefore, stay in the Word, study it, and meditate on it day and night. 
• Pray and Fast: Prayer is communication with God. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 invites us to pray without ceasing. Paired with reading the Word, prayer is how we connect to the Father’s heart. Fasting helps you get in the habit of denying yourself. It is a time for reflection, repentance, and realigning ourselves with God’s will.
• Fellowship With Other Believers: Proverbs 11:14 says that in the counsel of many, there is wisdom. In Hebrews 10:25, the apostle advises us not to abandon the assembly of believers. It is important to have a godly community and seek Godly counsel and wisdom.
• Heed to the Promptings of the Holy Spirit: As we grow closer to God and are committed to following Him, we will learn to discern His voice. The Holy Spirit in us is always looking out for us and prompting us to stay on the narrow path (Matthew 7:14). Practice obedience and listen to what He is saying. It could be as small as picking up some clothes from the floor or as big as moving to another city by ourselves or starting a ministry. Either way, let us be quick to obey and surrender to His will.
• Serve Others: When we serve and cultivate an others-centered mindset, we reflect the heart of Jesus. He came to serve and not to be served (Mark 10:45). Surrendering our time, energy, and resources to serve others is an act of worship that honors God and fulfills His purpose for our lives.

Practicing these daily acts of faith leads us to a deeper connection with our Father. We thus begin living out what it means to be true worshippers.

Conclusion

Worship is more than singing praise songs in Sunday services. It is a heart posture and a lifestyle of honoring and bringing glory to God. 

It is authentic and rooted in our relationship with God. 

It is the embodiment of a life surrendered to God. 

Worship and surrender foster a deep relationship between us and our Creator. Through worship and surrender, we experience the fullness of God’s presence.

Let us live a life worthy of our Father in the heavens, cultivating a heart posture of surrender and worship.