Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. (Psalm 100:2)

The Bible is filled with verses commanding us to worship. Many churches today have worship bands, worship leaders, even worship pastors. You can buy worship CDs. Hang around the church or anyone associated with it long enough, and you are guaranteed to hear that word pop up in conversation.

But how would you define worship? If someone asked you to put it into words, what would you say? I have a feeling that a lot of Christians would be speechless, or else stumble around trying to define it. And yet, we talk about it all of the time.

Recently, I came across the following definition of worship from William Temple. These words are taken from his book, Readings in St. John’s Gospel, and I think they are profound and beautiful, illustrating the all-consuming nature of worship and how it touches upon each part of our self. I hope they will be as encouraging to you as they have been to me.

“Worship is the submission of all our nature to God.

It is the quickening of the conscience by His holiness;

the nourishment of mind with His truth;

the purifying of imagination by His beauty;

the opening of the heart to His love;

the surrender of will to His purpose —

and all of this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless

emotion of which our nature is capable.”

May you worship the Lord today and every day!