I used to think the hardest part of worship was simply getting there—getting everyone dressed, getting the Bible and notes, getting out the door without forgetting something. But over time, I learned the harder work often starts before the first song is led. The hardest work is getting my heart into the right place.
Worship is not a mood we wait on. It is a direction we choose.
Jesus said, John 4:23–24 — “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth… God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” That word must matters. Worship is not built on preference, personality, or atmosphere. It is built on the nature of God and the obedience of His people—offered with sincere inward devotion (“spirit”) and anchored to what He has revealed (“truth”).
That means a simple but sobering thing: I can be physically present and still not truly worship.
I can sing and think about lunch. I can pray and be half-resentful. I can listen to Scripture and quietly defend my favorite habit. I can sit through the Lord’s Supper and treat it like routine.
So if we want to grow, we do not start by critiquing the “flow” of the service. We start by asking, What kind of worshiper am I bringing into the assembly today?
The Psalms don’t invite us into worship casually. They call us to bow. Psalm 95:6–7 — “Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God…” That posture is not just knees—it is humility. It is the heart saying, “You are God, and I am not.”
On Sundays, the assembly is a gift. It is one of the ways God steadies His people. We gather as Christians to remember Christ, to sing, to pray, to learn, and to stir one another up to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24–25). We do this with order and purpose, not as entertainment and not as spiritual background noise. 1 Corinthians 14:40 — “But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.”
And the center of it all is Jesus.
When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we are not acting out a tradition. We are proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes. 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 reminds us this memorial is tied to the sacrifice of Christ and the proclamation of His death. If my mind is wandering during that moment, I am not just distracted—I am treating holy things as common.
So what does it look like to prepare your heart for worship in a practical, doable way?
It may look less dramatic than you think.
Sometimes preparation is as simple as telling the truth about your condition before God. If you are bitter, admit it. If you are anxious, admit it. If you are tired, admit it. Then bring it under the Lordship of Christ. Worship is not pretending you are fine. Worship is bowing with what is real.
Sometimes preparation means making peace as much as it depends on you. Jesus taught the seriousness of unresolved conflict and hypocrisy. While the specific context of Matthew 5 is not a “church service schedule,” the principle is clear: God cares about a clean heart and honest relationships. If you need to repent, do not delay it. If you need to apologize, do not make worship your hiding place.
Sometimes preparation is choosing reverence in your words and behavior as you walk in. We teach our children more than we realize by how we speak in the parking lot and the foyer. If we treat the assembly like a casual social hour, we quietly train hearts to be casual before God. There is warmth and kindness in the Lord’s family, yes—but also reverence. The two do not compete. Reverence protects what warmth is meant to serve.
And sometimes preparation is simply opening your Bible ahead of time, reading the text, and praying for the teacher and those who will hear. That is one of the most loving things a sister can do for the whole congregation: show up ready to listen, ready to sing, ready to be corrected, ready to be strengthened.
Our Elders carry a heavy spiritual responsibility. They are tasked with watching for souls (Hebrews 13:17). One of the best ways we can support their work is not merely with compliments—it is by coming to worship with a heart that is ready to be shepherded by God’s word.
If worship feels dry, do not assume the answer is “something needs to change up front.” Sometimes the answer is “something needs to change in me.” That is not condemnation. That is hope. Because if the problem is my heart, then by God’s help, my heart can be renewed.
And Scripture gives us the pathway: truth and spirit, together.
Truth keeps us from drifting into emotionalism and self-made religion. Spirit keeps us from drifting into cold routine. When both are present, worship is steady, humble, clear, and deeply alive—because it is directed to the Father through Christ.
Application for today
Before the next assembly you attend, do these three things:
- Read your Scripture focus (even just 5–10 verses).
Start with John 4:23–24 and Psalm 95:6–7. - Confess one heart-level issue to the Lord in prayer.
Not “help everyone,” but “help me obey here.” - Choose one act of reverence you will practice intentionally.
Examples: arrive a few minutes earlier to pray, silence your phone, sing with attention to the words, or keep your conversation edifying and measured.
Small decisions, made consistently, reshape a worshiper.
Discussion questions
- What most commonly distracts you during worship—anxiety, habits, relationships, or routine?
- In your own words, what does it mean to worship “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23–24)?
- What practical step would most help your household prepare for worship the night before?
- How can you help strengthen the assembly through your participation—singing, attention, encouragement, and reverence?
- What would change in your worship if you treated the Lord’s Supper as a weekly re-centering of your entire life?
