21 Days of Moving Toward Godنموونە

Day 9: Praise & Worship

One of my favorite things during a season of prayer and fasting is moments spent in worship. God seems to show up differently in these seasons than others. At least that used to be my perspective until I realized it’s not God who shows up differently, it’s me who shows up differently. 

Why is it that in a season of sacrifice, the intimacy of worship increases? I believe it’s because sacrifice and worship are not two separate practices, they’re actually entwined. One of the first times in the Bible the word “worship” is ever used is in Genesis 22:5. God had just asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac on a mountain nearby. Abraham had waited years to have a son, in fact, he was 100 years-old when Isaac was born. Isaac was a promised gift from God. He represented the future of Abraham’s people, he represented a promise and a legacy Abraham would leave, but in that moment God’s question to Abraham was, “Are you willing to sacrifice what you most hold dear for me?”

During seasons of fasting, I believe we’re positioning ourselves to do that same exact thing. We’re sacrificing and saying “no” to the things that are most dear to us so that we can say “yes” to God. God is the only one who deserves our praise and worship. True worship comes from a heart that says, “God, there is nothing I will hold back from you. You have full access to my life.” True worship involves sacrifice. It means we will give to God whatever He asks of us.

As you continue in this season of prayer and fasting, I encourage you to lean in to worship daily in your personal quiet time. Take 15 minutes with your favorite worship song playing and allow yourself to worship God from a place of sacrifice, to truly bring Him a sacrifice of Praise.

When we move, moments happen.

–Pastor Greg Reade