This past Sunday, I was playing piano for my church's worship team. We were singing a song that we had played at church many times before, and I was singing along. But while I was singing, I came to a realization: My worship had become a routine.
Most of the songs we play at church we have played many times. I know all the words to the songs, and I can sing along with them effortlessly. But because I've been in church all my life, and I've been playing for the worship team for over 5 years, these songs have become so normal to me that I can sing along with them without having a clue WHAT I am singing or who I am singing to.
These songs, which often have incredibly powerful lyrics, have become groupings of chords and words that are mindlessly played and quickly thrown out of mind after it's over. I can sing and I can hit every note, but do I truly know what I'm singing? WHY I'm singing?
Singing these songs on Sunday morning are supposed to be worship of the God who created me, but I go through these songs so absent-mindedly that it really is NOT worship! It's routine. I don't think about the words to the song, or what they are saying about my Lord. All I think about is, what chord comes next? What song comes next? How much longer till the setlist is over?
Worship is a time when I'm supposed to be focused on God, and spending time reflecting on the greatness of who He is and all he has done. I should be doing my best to give Him all of me. To praise and worship him, and put Him on the throne. But instead, I've been letting the words come out of my mouth without even thinking of them.
There are so much to these songs! Singing them and focusing on my God can bring me so much closer to Him. All I need to do is listen to the words and let their truth ring in my heart. To reflect on all he has done for me, and to make me love Him more and more, and to make my relationship with Him stronger.
For too long, I've allowed myself to sing without reflecting on what I am actually singing.
For too long, I've not let the meaning of what I'm singing actually sink in, and have an effect on me and the way I live my life.
For too long, I've been singing songs of worship without actually worshipping the God who has given everything for me.
Yes. Worship has become a routine in my life. But no longer.