Empty Worship

I wrote most of today’s Old Lazy Dog devotion about 10 years ago, when I was in a place that I thought I would never be when it came to worship. Instead of being all about Him, it was all about me. And for the longest time, I didn’t even know it, didn't even realize how selfish and self-centered I had become in my worship.

Today, I am resending it more as a reminder to me about what worship should be and not what I allow it to become.

“As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” - Luke 19:37-40 ESV

Empty Worship... That’s where I was. 

Empty. 
Worship.

Standing in church. Singing great songs, but worship had nothing to do with it... really. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the music. The lyrics were great, God-centered words. But at that time the words were empty. I’d have a smile on my face and would sing the songs, but felt like that was all I was doing - singing words that hit the ceiling and not necessarily God’s ears.

And deep inside my heart would ache knowing I wanted more in my worship. Wondering why God seemed so far away.

Empty worship.

Then, when I would pray about the distance, along with my checklist of all I wanted God to do for me and from me, the prayers seemed to go no further than the ceiling. And my heart would ache as I continued to wonder why God was so far away.

Empty worship.

I would even read the Word to prepare for a talk or to write a devotion, and the words seemed to take on a Solomon-esque “There’s nothing new under the sun” meaning. I had read it all before and nothing new was entering my mind or heart. And I would wonder why God seemed so far away.

Empty worship.

Until finally, I got away from life. Got away from family. Got away from the noise and the calendar, and stepped away for a day.

And that’s where reality stepped in - It wasn’t God that had moved. It wasn’t God that was so far away, it was me.

Like the Pharisees before me, life had become all about me. 

It was all about rules I should follow. Things that I should do. The person I should be. So, I put God in my pocket or kept Him in my Bible and would try to pull Him out when it was convenient or when I needed something. Then I would go on with life trying to do life my way. After all, look at all that I had done... look how far that I had come.

Worship was empty because my focus on worship was on me and what I might get from it and not about God and all that He is... not about Jesus and all that He did and does... 

Worship was empty because I was too worried about filling me... instead of pouring out and worshiping Him - the one that could and would wash me clean and fill me again.

Like the Pharisees before me, my worship was all about me... even when standing face to face with Jesus... even when surrounded by those who truly worshiped the King of kings and the Lord of lords, my worship was empty.

Is it any wonder that the stones didn’t cry out?

Maybe you’re at that place now. Where you are distracted and distant, and wondering where God is and if the stones might cry out more sooner than later.

Stop... 
Take a moment... 
Empty yourself, 
your heart, 
your mind... 
and give it all to Jesus. 
Tell Him how magnificent and wonderful He is. 
Tell Him of your gratefulness. 
Thank Him for His grace and forgiveness. 
Sing Hosanna, 
Hosanna to the Son of God, 
who was and is and is to come.

Pour yourself out and let Him fill you up again. 

Seek Him and He will be found by you. 

Keep the Faith

“As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting:
“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” - Luke 19:37-40 NASB