How To Worship: 61 Ways To Worship And Find Joy
“What are three areas in which Christians often struggle?” my daughter’s seminary teacher asked his classroom of energetic youth.
His response was thought-provoking.
Prayer, fasting, and worship.
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Worship
That one question, and those three answers, initiated a lively discussing in seminary class earlier this month, according to my daughter. Subsequently, my daughter and I had a lively discussion ourselves. Later, I did a bit of research on my own, delving deep into the topic of worship:
Worship.
How does one worship?
And how often should one worship?
Is once a week at church sufficient?
These are questions that have lingered in the back of my mind for many years.
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How To Worship
Some time ago, I came across a talk by President Bruce R. McConkie titled, “How To Worship“:
In this beautifully-written, life-changing talk, he shares the many ways in which one can worship the Lord. Many of his suggestions are listed here:
Part 1
- follow after Him
- believe His doctrine
- think His thoughts
- walk in His paths
- be baptized by immersion
- preach His gospel
- heal the sick
- raise the dead
- put first in your life the things of His kingdom
- be obedient to His word
- center your whole heart upon Him and the salvation He offers
- walk in His light
- do the things that He wants done
- do what He would do under similar circumstances
- be as He is
- walk in the Spirit
- rise above carnal things
- bridle your passions
- overcome the world
- pay your tithes and offerings
- act as wise stewards in caring for those things which have been entrusted to your care
- use your talents and means for the spreading of truth and the building up of his kingdom
- get married
- have children
- teach your children the gospel
- bring your children up in light and truth
- perfect the family unit
- honor your father and our mother
- men: love your wife with all your heart and cleave unto her and none else
- visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction
- keep ourselves unspotted from the world
Part 2
- work on a welfare project
- administer to the sick
- go on a mission
- minister
- hold family home evening
- study the gospel
- treasure up light and truth
- ponder in our hearts the things of his kingdom, and to make them part of our lives
- pray with all the energy of our souls
- preach by the power of the Spirit
- sing songs of praise and thanksgiving
- work
- be actively engaged in a good cause
- be about your Father’s business
- love and service our fellowmen
- feed the hungry
- clothe the naked
- comfort those that mourn
- hold up the hands that hang down
- strengthen the feeble knees
- stand valiantly in the cause of truth and righteousness
- let your influence for good be felt in civic, cultural, educational, and governmental fields
- support those laws and principles which further the Lord’s interests on earth
- be of good cheer
- be courageous
- be valiant
- have the courage of your God-given convictions
- keep the faith
- keep the commandments of God
- live the whole law of the whole gospel
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Everyday Things
This list of ways to worship changed me and released a burden that I have been carrying for years.
Worship is more than attending church meetings, and renewing our covenants by partaking of sacramental emblems; worship is the countless things we do every day that draw us nearer to God, and to our Savior, Jesus Christ.
I’ve often felt discouraged, wondering if the things I do to build the Kingdom of God are part of my internal “checklist” or, rather, things I do solely as a way to prove my worthiness and “earn” my way into heaven.
After reading President McConkie’s talk, I now realize that my efforts to do good over the years haven’t been an effort to prove my worthiness, rather, they have been a form of worship.
This would account for the overwhelming number of blessings I have received over the years, blessings that allow me to live with joy in the midst of affliction.
Filled With Joy
A close friend of mine, in the midst of a very difficult trial, shared,
“This is one of the most painful things I’ve had to endure, yet I am filled with more joy than I have ever known.“
I could only smile and nod my head, for I have experienced the same in my own life.
C.S. Lewis once said,
Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in difficulties.
With the amount of commotion taking place in today’s world, the future can feel unsettling. I testify, having experienced it for myself in such powerful ways over the years, that the more effort one puts into worshipping God throughout the week, the more blessed and “joy-filled” one’s life will be, even in the midst of affliction.
Burdens Made Light
In the Book of Mormon, a man named Amulon began to exercise authority over Alma and his people. Yet, in the midst of the persecution, their burdens were made light:
And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
Alma 24:15
Our burdens, too, can be made light as we devote time each day to worshipping God.
Invitation
Choose today to worship the one true God in “ten thousand times ten thousand ways” (Elder McConkie) and your joy will endure forever.
Book Recommendation
Curious about the role leisure plays in worship?
The book, Leisure: The Basis of Culture by Josef Pieper will answer your questions in the most life-changing way. Grab a copy of this classic book HERE.
Scripture Verses
1 Chronicles 16:29
“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”
John 4:23
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seekers such to worship Him.”
Isaiah 12:5
“Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things; this is know in all the earth.”
Quotes
C.S. Lewis
“In the process of being worshiped… God communicates his presence to men.”
Charles H. Spurgeon
“Worship is the highest elevation of the spirit, and yet the lowliest prostration of the soul.”
Gordon B. Hinckley
“Gratitude is of the very essence of worship. … When you walk with gratitude, you do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives.”
