Tirone writes, "We often tell God that we are here to worship the Lord - what does God think? Are you desirous to give the Lord of an offering, a sacrifice of praise, or are these words seeming empty for you? Do you want to get the most out of your time of corporate worship to the Lord in the sense of giving more of yourself as you praise?



Here are some points to consider and reflect on to help us do just this!"

1. Remember the Focus of your worship

Remember that we worship to bless God, to glorify God, and not those around us (Read Ephesians 3:21)!� Disregard the fact that people can see you, or what they might think of how you worship, but focus on God Who sees you rather!� David knew that he was humiliating himself in the eyes of some people in his worship to the Lord, and still decided that he would become even more undignified (See 2 Samuel 6:22)!� Yes, we need to be one in heart and mind in our corporate time of worship.� People around you also want to worship God - let them focus on their part and you on yours!� Be free to worship in the way that God is leading you to!

God has provided grace so that we may escape the bondage of sin, so that we can all attain the salvation and abundant life that God wants to give us!� We must strip away our pride as we come before the Lord, because we are only worthy because of the blood of the risen Lamb.� "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).� The Bible calls us to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, and God will then lift us up in accordance with God's plan (James 4:10).� We are not to elevate ourselves!� God is on the Throne, and we have the pleasure of being able to adore the Lord!

2. Be Real in your Worship

We are called to worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24).� This means that we need to obey how God has commanded us to worship the Lord!� This is also requires us to be sincere and honest about our worship.

Be sincere in your worship to the Lord - God knows our hearts.� As you sing every word of the songs that are being offered to God, focus on what you are actually saying to the Lord!� Believe these words!� Know that God is listening.� As we sing "We gladly choose you�now", let's actively choose God in our hearts over everything else and commit to it!� As we sing "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord", let us realise that we are asking God to open up our hearts to what God wants to show us - let us be willing to hear!� We are communicating with our Creator when we sing these words - may these words not be in vain!

God knows all too well and is very familiar with those that are not being reverent and true in their worship.� Jesus says in Matthew 15:8, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honour Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me".� I pray that Jesus never says that about me!� If we sincerely draw near to God, God will draw near to us (James 4:8).� I certainly want God to be near to me!

3. Worship God only!

If we worship God in spirit and in truth, we are not to worship anyone or anything else (Matthew 4:10)!� God alone is worthy - God alone deserves our divine praises!� There are distractions all around us.� The enemy wants to keep our minds away from God!� We are warned to guard ourselves from these idols (1 John 5:21).� We must declare that we will bow down to our Lord and offer up our worship to God only.

We worship God because God is awesome and Christ has set us free, not to earn God's honour!� We already have favour because of Christ! (See John 12:26)� We need to love God with every part of ourselves (Matthew 22:37).� How can we truly hold back in our worship if we grow to love our Lord with all that we are?� May worship become more intimate for us all.