What comes to mind when you think of worship? Maybe you picture a specific place such as the Worship Center, the songs you love or the people you are standing near. Those are all meaningful and can stir our hearts, but worship calls us to recenter. We must recenter on Who we worship, why we worship and what worship really means. We recenter on Jesus. Because of His life, death on the cross, resurrection and His promised return, we are able to worship in “Spirit and Truth” (John 4:23-24).
One of the clearest pictures of worship in Scripture is the Psalms. This collection of songs and prayers captures the joys, struggles, doubts and victories of God’s people as they remember who He is and respond to Him. Psalm 92, in particular, helps us see how we should approach worship and why it matters.
The Goodness of Our Worship (Psalm 92:1-3)
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord” (Psalm 92:1). Worship is good because it acknowledges God for who He is. No matter our circumstances, whether we are walking through joy or hardship, it is good to remember Him. Worship helps reorient our hearts to see the bigger picture of God’s faithfulness. It is good to respond to a God who is faithful and unchanging, even when we are not.
Worship is good for our souls, because it lifts our eyes off ourselves and reminds us of God’s goodness and sovereignty. Worship also serves as a witness to one another as we declare together that God is good. Whether through songs, prayers or daily obedience, every act of worship is a way to proclaim God’s goodness both to our own hearts and to those around us.
The Gladness of Our Worship (Psalm 92:4-5)
Worship is not only good, it is also meant to bring gladness. “For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work” (Psalm 92:4). When we consider all that God has done for us, joy should rise in our hearts. Worship is never meant to be a lifeless routine. Instead, it is meant to be a joyful response to God’s presence and power.
Our emotions and attitudes in worship matter. God calls us to worship Him with gladness that flows from who He is and what He has done as revealed in His Word. Even in the valleys of life, we can have joy, because our God is faithful (Psalm 23:4). The gladness of worship is not limited to Sundays. It extends into our everyday lives, shaping the way we work, love and live. When we worship with gladness, we testify to the watching world that God is our source of joy.
The Grounds of Our Worship (Psalm 92:6-8)
Finally, Psalm 92 points us to the firm foundation of worship. Our circumstances may change. Sometimes blessings overflow like a rushing river and other times they seem to run dry. Life is full of ups and downs, but our worship cannot be tied to how much we feel blessed in any given moment.
True worship is not grounded in our experiences but in the unchanging character of God. “You, O Lord, are on high forever” (Psalm 92:8). His rule has never wavered and will never end. Our God is eternal, faithful, and sovereign. That is the solid ground on which we build our worship. When we root our worship in who God is, rather than in what we have or do not have, we find a steady anchor for our souls. Our lives become steady and secure, not because life is easy, but because God never changes. We worship the Lord because of His identity and His eternity.
