24/7 Worship

By Cat Brooks @mum_in_zone_one

The word “worship” seems to mean different things to different people:

“He worships the ground she walks on.”
“She’s a worship leader.”
“He worships his Dad.”
“Sunday Worship is at 10.30am.”
“She worships Billie Eilish.”
“They worshipped idols, though the Lord had said, ‘You shall not do this.’”

I’m not going to try to tell you the right and wrong way to use the word “worship.” But I
will say this: we all worship something, all of the time.

Every day I make decisions based on who or what I’m treasuring most; who or what I
think will give me security and satisfaction; who or what is Number One. I might not be
deliberately worshipping with my lips (although I do that), but rather with my actions – or
even just in my attitude.

As a Christian, I know that worship is not just for Sundays: Jesus is my Lord all week
long. But as a wife, a mum and an employee, I find it easier to see how to worship God on
a Sunday in church than on a Monday and the rest of the week.

These verses from Colossians 3 have helped me to remember to worship God in the
mundane, repetitive tasks as well as in the exciting or more-obviously-significant events
of life:

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him… Whatever you do, work at it with all your
heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will
receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:17;23

These verses show me that it’s what’s going on in my heart that matters most while I’m
going about my day-to-day business. In all things I should be thanking God and working
cheerfully, so as to please him and show him to others. It’s as I fix my eyes on Jesus that
my heart will stop turning to useless idols. And he’s the one who enables me to do
‘thankless tasks’ and secret good deeds for his glory, knowing that he sees me and is
pleased when I work with a thankful heart.

Here are some things that help me to worship the Lord in the muck of life:
I start the day reading the Bible and praying for help. I need to feed on God’s word. Just
as I’ve had a hot dinner every day to sustain me, so God’s word has brought me safe thus
far. Meditating on God’s word (chewing it over throughout the day) is a highly effective
way to turn your heart away from idols and towards the living God. Don’t take my word
for it – read Psalm 1!

In our family we find that listening to Christian music (which we call “worship music”)
helps us to focus our hearts on Him, especailly when things are a bit fraught and frantic.
The more chaotic things get, the louder we turn up the music. We find memory verse
songs immensely helpful and an easy way to meditate on God’s word. Slugs and Bugs,
Seeds Family Worship and Colin Buchanan are excellent for this. It’s never been easier to
access scripture songs!

I listen to Christian podcasts that encourage me, too. As well as the Delight Podcast I find
the daily podcast ‘The Brant and Sherri Oddcast’ a happy cocktail of comedy and Jesus-encouragement. There are so many good podcasts to choose from nowadays – what a
blessing!

When I talk to my friends and church family about what the Lord has been teaching and
showing me throughout the week, it encourages me as well as them. (Note to self – do
this more!)

Here’s a song to meditate on this week, whether you’re folding laundry, stacking shelves
or drafting international peace treaties…