Choosing to worship "in spite of the circumstances" does not mean just going through the motions of worship. Worship must involve the heart. But how can you remove the hindrances to having a worshiper's heart?

Here's what I do when I'm faced with this situation. First I pray, confessing to God the specific sins that are hindering my worship. But I don't dwell on my inadequacies becauses Satan sometimes uses my sins and weaknesses to draw attention to myself and away from God. Worship is not about me and my sinfulness . . . it's about a holy and forgiving God.

It helps me to picture putting those things in a box, along with any other distractions, and taking the box outside the door. The things in the box may need to be dealt with, but for now I am going to set them aside and turn all my attention to God.

Then I simply tell God that my desire is to worship him and I ask him to honor this desire. He has never turned down my request!

With all my love
I will answer you . . .

I will worship
I will bow down
Before my Lord and King.
I will love you
I will give you my heart
My everything.

Taken from the song "Will You Worship?" by Brian Doerksen on Touching the Father's Heart #18 "Light the Fire Again", Copyright © 1994 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing. Found on Vineyard Music products. Used by permission.

The Worship Thought for Today was written and Copyright © 1997 by Lori Lindsey. Used by permission.