You are probably familiar with the biblical figure David. He is one of the most referenced people in the Bible with 66 chapters dedicated to him. According to the Bible, he is a young shepherd who earns recognition initially as a musician and later by defeating the gigantic champion, Goliath. He also becomes the first King of Israel to unite the nation. If you look at David’s life, you will see that to worship God properly, our hearts must be in the right place. David’s actions show the elements of worship that please God. We know from Scripture that David was a broken worshipper. Psalm 51:16-17 says, “…you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart You, God, will not despise.” While he may have stumbled in sin every day, he still received forgiveness from a God who loved him. He was strengthened through his relationship with God. Here are four ways to worship with a heart like David’s.
Stay Focused
It is easy to be distracted during worship, especially with everything that’s going on around us. We also may have a lot going on inside that can take our focus away from God. If you are having trouble focusing during worship, David is a great model to turn to. David said, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name, I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips, my mouth will praise you” (Psalm 63:1-5). David wrote this Psalm when he was hiding from his enemies. Yes, he was lonely and unsure of what was to come. Yet, he didn’t let his feelings keep him from worshipping God.
Worship and intimacy with God grow as we come to know God’s heart and cherish His presence in all the comings and goings of our days. In all the busyness of daily life, it takes intention and purpose to focus on God.
Be Passionate
David is also a great example of what a passionate worshipper looks like. Second Samuel 6:12-15 says, “David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his night, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.” These verses reveal a man who was 100 percent connected with God in worship. At that moment, he recognized the true power of giving all glory to God, even when those around you disapprove.
Worship Everywhere
David worshipped everywhere. The Bible tells us that David worshipped in the fields, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day, they pour forth speech; night after night, they reveal knowledge. They have no speech; they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Psalm 19-1-4). Incredibly, David wrote Psalms as he tended to sheep in the fields. He also worshipped during battle. He may not have expected to face a giant like Goliath, but when he did, he stood up to the challenge. Even when he was facing some of the most overwhelming challenges, he still recognized God's power and how amazing He is. We, too, can recognize and worship God everywhere.
Give Praise in All Circumstances
According to Scripture, praise and worship are acts of our will that flow out of us through God's reverence. A great way to worship with a heart like David’s is to try some of David’s worshipful actions, which includes giving praise in all circumstances. All the things that David experienced were motivated by his desire to give glory to God. If we follow David’s example, we will grow in both faith and worship.
God is present come rain or shine. He is even present when we fail to realize it. It’s important that we not only turn our focus to worship when we begin to lose hope but also that we turn to praise in times of abundance. Many of us are quick to question God when things go wrong but slow to honor Him when things go well.
It’s hard to recognize that God is always around because we can’t physically see Him, but trusting that He is near is one of God’s greatest promises. Psalm 27:1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” Like many psalms, this was written from a season of trouble. Yet, it is a song of confidence and triumph because David was not in darkness or ultimate peril because the Lord was his light and salvation. God Himself brought light to David’s life. He did not despair in darkness and all that it represented. His life was filled with the Lord, and his life was filled with the light. The same can be applied to our lives. When you’re worried, remember that the Lord is the stronghold of your life. Only when we recognize this can you truly be filled with light.
