This Is How

I was reading through Colossians over the weekend and chapter 3 really stood out to me, and within that I had these three distinct sections in the chapter stand out in my mind:


"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things"~Colossians 3:1-2~

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."  ~Colossians 3:5-10~ 

 "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts" ~Colossians 3:16~


And I felt in my spirit that there was a connection between the groups of verses that stood out but wasn't quite sure what it was (besides a nice dose of conviction), and then finally it connected that these verses are in their essence, all about worship!  

Worship is our acknowledgement, our reply, our response to God, whether in thought, attitude or action. 

So in the first couple verses, the response to God is setting our hearts and minds on things above -both are mentioned in those two verses, our thoughts and our attitude! 
In verses 5-10, the focus is on our actions as a response to God in worship. By turning away, putting to death the old self 'with its practices'  Not just thinking that maybe you really should, probably... not do this thing or that thing. 
And in verse 16 the response is both a thought and an action as a form of worship. Dwelling on the message of Christ (thought), and then to teaching, admonishing, and singing (all actions)!
 I also noticed that this verse involves both individual worship - thinking or dwelling on the things of God, as well as group worship - teaching, counselling others, singing to God together..etc. 


After reading this chapter, thinking on it for a few days and talking to God about it, I asked Him, 'How do I worship You?'
It sounds like a silly question,  but I thought of the areas where I could better cultivate that worship in my thoughts and attitude and in my actions as well. He knows us better than we know ourselves - and He told me some things I was surprised by, but they were really neat to hear!

So I really encourage you to ask God about how YOU worship Him- not just how you usually do, or how you like to and let Him answer, some of the things He says might surprise you. 

Blessings!