21 Days of Prayer - Day 14: Exalt the One who said, “Worship in spirit and in truth.”
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Opening Prayer
Worship (from The Valley of Vision prayer book)
John 4:23-26
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
Notice
On a journey to Galilee, Jesus goes through Samaria and travels a road of great historic (Jacob’s well) and religious significance. Remarkably, Jesus asks a Samaritan woman for a drink of water from the well and turns it into a life-changing conversation about Living Water. Included is this insight about true worship: both spirit (emotion, heart) and truth (intellect, mind). The woman says, in effect, “I know some day the Messiah will tell us what we need to know.” And King Jesus reveals himself to her, “I who speak to you am he.” Imagine how her pulse must have raced. The Christ was calling her to trust in him (the Living Water) and to follow him as a wholehearted worshiper.
Think about it
Worship is the full engagement of the Christ-follower in honoring and glorifying God. It is not a matter of location or of style, but of heart and mind. Worship is far more than the music time in our “service” (though God gave us music as one vital way to express this “heart and mind” full engagement). Worship is an all-of-life response to our King Jesus, both personal and gathered with other believers, in which we offer ourselves wholly to him. Worship is not one hour a week. It is our week. Are you a worshiper? Is your worship an offering of yourself completely to God, heart and mind, through the Living Water, King Jesus?
A prayer exalting the One who called us to worship in spirit and truth
“What a privilege to exalt you, heavenly Father, Maker of heaven and earth, Author of our salvation. I praise you for your gift of Living Water, your Son, my Lord Jesus Christ. I delight in that gift and drink deeply today of that Water. I offer you today my entire self, heart and mind, emotions and intellect. I place my life before you. Cleanse me; fill me; use me as your vessel, O God. May my day today be invested in exalting Jesus Christ, however and wherever you give me opportunity. May my life be a prayer of praise to you today, Father, and as a result may others look to the Living Water. For the honor and glory of Jesus Christ, amen.”
Pray the Psalms
Group Prayer
Pray that we embrace new ways of worshiping together during this season when we are apart
Pray for Tim and worhsip leaders of other churches as they continue to faitfhfully lead us in worship every Sunday
Pray for the technical support staff and equipment that support the streaming of our services
Prayer For Church Musicians and Artists (from The Book of Common Prayer)
O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
To read more of God’s word
Psalm 145, John 4
