|PIC1|Hey friends... well, life has been SO full, with mountaintop experiences AND valley moments, and all of it seems to be requiring me to keep refining my understanding about worship, what it truly means, what it costs, what it produces, and why it is so very valuable.

Jesus Himself said that true worship must be in Spirit and in Truth... and yet the only way this is possible is through GRACE. Exercised in grace, and received by His grace... as none of us could claim to be so perfect in heart that we don't rely on His glorious grace to stand before His throne. Only by the cross... only by the blood of our Saviour can we freely enter this glorious place of worship...

The Father Seeks for us to worship Him.... and the Father will continually teach us to worship Him. This is said beautifully in a book I've been reading called 'The Way and Wonder of Worship', by Geoffrey Bingham who says, 'Something of our fallen humanity - our human flesh - mingles even with the worship which the Spirit inspires. Yet this does not mean that such worship is unacceptable to God. Worship is commanded, and - as we have said - is offered through grace, and so is accepted by grace. Therefore, we can be at peace concerning the worship we offer to God.'

There is a very real battle going on however for our worship... Who you are going to give the highest of worth and honour to... (worthship)
AND... Who you are going to serve...

Because we are built to worship..... EVERY one ends up worshipping something... even as Christians, once we have finally found the focus of our lives and our hearts, it is amazing how the battle becomes even more intense for the TRUTH of your worship.

Remember Satan, in Matthew 4.
tries to entice, lure, seduce Jesus by his cunning words, his empty promises..... 'kneel down and worship me....

Satan has always been after our worship... in .Isaiah 14, he says, I will ascend higher than God and all His stars.... Aah... the age old story of pride.

Satan is always trying to exalt firstly himself, and then any other idol he possibly can in your life above that of our Lord and King.

HERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT I HAVE FOUND WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF

1. YOUR TIME - Busy can become an idol.... for meditation and seeking after God requires time, and if you don't have it, you won't find yourself FINDING the secret place of God...
Psalm 119:10 says, 'I seek You with all my heart'. Matt 6: SEEK ye first the kingdom of God.
You should always make time for the things in your life that are of true value to you....


2.YOUR PRAYERS - Deut 4 says, 'the Lord is near you when you pray'... what a beautiful scripture...

And all throughout the psalms, the songs and the prayers of grateful people are offered to the Lord as valuable moments of adoration. Never underestimate the value of your prayers.


3.YOUR RESOURCE - In an age of consumersim, the cry for new boats, new cars, bigger this, bigger that, keeping up with the Jones's (whoever the Jones's are!!), over-eating, under-caring, over-spending... like a bad habit.... While there is nothing wrong with having 'things', you've always got to make sure that the things don't have you. Again, it always boils down to the heart.
Resource in Acts was used to care for the community of faith...

God loves to give GOOD gifts to His children... but they are always to be shared... open hands
Prov 31 says generously... that she opens her hands to the poor.


4. YOUR HEART - The issues of our lives spring from our hearts. your affections, your passions, misguided passions, illicit passions, ungodly desires, OR... thought processes that are damaging to your soul... negative, jealous destructive thoughts, feeling like you have no worth, overwhelming desire that takes up every thought, being critical, suspicious... even being passive... no stirring of passion in your heart.

Jeremieh...the heart is deceitful above all things
Psalm 19 - may the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You O Lord
Psalm 24... Who may ascend my Holy Hill... Clean hands and a pure heart...

AS A MAN THINKS IN HIS HEART, so is he....

Highly important area in life to take care of....

Anyway lovely people, I guess I am a little preachy this time, but this topic so burns in my heart. (I actually have another 4 points, but I'm sure the editors would love to hear from others..)

With all my heart I encourage you to live a life that is passionate and true. Not for the praises of man, but ultimately to hear the only 'well done' that will eternally matter. Don't allow the worship in your life to be given thoughtlessly, but with great care and understanding.... For He alone, is worthy of ALL praise.

Love you so... Darlene Z.



Darlene Zschech
Christian Today Columnist

Darlene Zschech is a renowned singer and songwriter, also the worship pastor of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. Her best known song "Shout to the Lord" is sung by an estimated 25-30 million churchgoers every week. In 2000, Darlene received a Dove Award nomination for 'Songwriter of the year' and has received the 'International Award' from GMA (Gospel Music Association). Darlene Zschech and her husband Mark are currently serving as executive directors of Mercy Ministries.