Seen. Known. Blessed.
July 16, 2026
I grew up in a house that echoed praise music 24/7. I have fond memories of my parents packing up all 5 kids into the minivan early on a Sunday morning so they could get to worship practice on time. My mom usually sang or played piano, and my dad ran sound. Blasting the Christian radio station while my mom applied the last touches of her makeup, we rolled into the church parking lot in the wee hours on Sunday mornings. Sitting through worship practice felt exciting and fun. Donuts, music, and getting to occasionally sit in the sound booth were pretty good rewards for waking up early.
As I grew up, I had the opportunity to serve in various worship ministries and I’m so thankful for every worship leader I have been mentored by. But what if worship is something deeper than singing? Don’t get me wrong- I love that aspect. But when I believed that worship was about my gifts, I was minimizing the presence of the Lord. The singing part of church was my favorite (sorry pastors). But if we aren’t careful, “worship” can become a glorified karaoke moment at church that centers around ourselves, rather than God. Our worship must begin in a still small place. When we take time to recognize who God is and what that means for us, we spark our journey of worshiping the King.
Your worship may look different than that of those around you, and isn’t that special? Our Creator designed us all to connect with Him uniquely. While serving at VBS, serving meals, visiting our neighbors, or participating in prayer groups, He wants us to be fully present and worship Him in our service. Daily devotions become restful, our prayer life becomes stronger, and our fellowship with our brothers and sisters grows deeper when we approach them as forms of worship, rather than routine chores to complete so that we may receive approval from others.
Romans 12:1 says, “… offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your true and proper worship” (NIV). Offering our bodies as living sacrifices can look like taking on roles of leadership and launching international ministries, but for many, it simply looks like surrendering to the Lord, offering our gifts, whatever they may be, open-handed without agenda. Fully trusting the Lord is scary, but it offers a peace that no approval on earth could ever provide. When we are in surrender, we are participating in worship that transcends our earthly expectations. Take a moment this week, to rest in His presence, to draw near to Him, and to experience worship in a way you may never have experienced before.
