Natural Does Not Mean Effortless

 Some may say that worship is natural and easy for us because it is what we were designed for but just because we are designed for something does not mean it does not take effort to do it. Certain people were born with the type of body that would lend itself to the sport of basketball but anyone who has watched a game knows that those athletes are making a great effort and are paying for it with sweat, bruises and sometimes blood. In fact, the effort started long before those athletes hit the court.

Those players have spent years training and disciplining their bodies. They have had to gain certain muscles, which took work. They had to increase their skill level, which took work. They had to have a routine of sleep, eating, exercise and practice. The game may be natural to them but it took and takes great effort.

Worship is not a moment but a lifestyle. It is based on an attitude of thanksgiving and gratitude that develops from an acceptance of Father’s love. When we focus on the benefits of his love it shapes our heart response. We move from entering the gates with thanksgiving to being in his courts with praise. We were created with the capacity to worship but just like the athlete it requires a disciplined effort to remain in that place, and to grow in it.

Everything in this world is a natural enemy to us and our relationship with Father. The world, including humanity, is broken. Father did not create it to be like this but rebellion has twisted it into this ugliness. The enemy of our soul wants the worship we offer Father. The world bent under his false lordship will try to persuade us against it. Even our old nature will try to pull us away, keep us busy, make us feel ungrateful, depress us, make us feel tired, or convince us it’s okay to skip a day. Just as there are a thousand excuses to keep the athlete from his discipline, so too are there a thousand excuses to keep us from fulfilling the purpose of our design.

King David understood this discipline of the heart and the disaster of falling away from it. Listen to the discipline in his words (Psalm 108):

My heart is unwavering, God.

I WILL sing and make music -

yes, with my whole being!

Wake up, harp and lyre!

I WILL wake the dawn itself!

I WILL give thanks to you, LORD, among all the people;

I WILL make music to you among the nations.

because your faithful love is higher than heaven;

your faithfulness reaches the clouds.

Exalt yourself, God, higher than heaven!

Let your glory be over all the earth!

Just because you are designed for it doesn’t mean it’s easy every day. Just because you have done it in the past doesn’t mean it’s natural to do it today. It takes this same disciplined determination to speak to yourself and say “Get up! I will praise my LORD today!” And none of this is possible unless you are absolutely convinced of his love for you, and the benefits of it. Love is our motivation but we must discover the discipline for it every day, no matter the weather, the busyness and the distractions because we are convinced that he is so good all praise is due him.