The Beautiful Gift of Worship Day 1

Devotional

We often think we need to have everything perfectly sorted before we can truly worship God. Like a house that needs cleaning before guests arrive, we try to tidy up our lives before approaching Him. But authentic worship isn't about presenting our polished selves - it's about bringing our genuine, messy, real selves before God. Just like the woman with the alabaster box, true worship flows from a heart that recognizes Jesus's worth, regardless of our current state. When we come to Him authentically, He receives us with open arms, seeing the beauty in our surrender rather than our perfection.

Bible Verse

"And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head." - Mark 14:3

Reflection Question

What areas of your life have you been trying to 'clean up' before bringing them to God in worship?

Quote

 I always thought that worship happened once you had everything kind of straight, right? I had sorted everything that out I could. I had gotten along with everybody during the week. I didn't fight with my family on the way to church. Right. Everything was going okay. I'd studied my Bible. Now, all of those things are kinds of worship. But I thought that when I was going to present myself to God, it had to be a presentation that took place once I had worked on myself and gotten myself to a certain level of acceptability. I was wrong.

Prayer

Lord, help me come to You just as I am, without pretense or delay. Thank You for accepting my authentic worship, even when I feel unworthy or unprepared. Amen.