Today’s culture has poisoned the minds of men, convincing them that by worshiping, they are less than a “real man.” How foolish. Men were designed to worship. God ordained it that way. It’s a lie from the enemy that says worship makes you weak; instead, it’s the ultimate expression of strength, because only a real man can bow his heart to the Creator and still stand tall.
Worship is the right posture for any man who loves God and wants to lead his family. A man who vigorously worships the Lord with his whole heart is to be honored, because he leads by example. His kids see a father who humbles himself before God, and his wife sees a husband who puts the Lord first, establishing what a real man looks like, in the home.
Pride says, “Look at me.” This was the posture the devil took, and he got himself, along with a third of the angels, thrown out of heaven, because they worshiped Lucifer. It takes a real man to stand in humility before the Father. Anybody can say, “Look at me.” That’s so easy, anybody can do that. It’s the real man, who stands distinguished before the Lord and wholeheartedly worships Him. Not for show, but to celebrate Him. Real men worship. Pride builds nothing but walls, but worship builds a legacy for generations to come, showing others what it means to live for Him.
Worship is Absolutely Necessary
As a believer, worship is not optional. I’m definitely not being legalistic here, but let me speak to the legalistic mindset that says, “Well, I don’t really have to worship. I can worship when I feel like it.” But worshiping is not about you. It’s about Him. It’s getting broken before God and staying that way. When one truly humbles himself and worships the Lord with all of his heart, transformation takes place. There are so many benefits to developing a lifestyle of worship, here are just a few. Worship isn’t a box to check; it’s the air your soul breathes, connecting you to the Lord’s heart and opening the door for Him to move in your life in ways you can’t imagine.
If you are not in the habit of worshiping, start today. You don’t need anything other than humility. This is how God designed you, and when you function as designed, all the pieces fit. When you wake up in the morning, tell Him that He is awesome, full of joy and encouragement. Later, tell Him how worthy He is or what a caring Father He is. Watch how this simple act of worship shifts your focus.
Worshiping God Ushers in His Presence
In a moment, it ushers in His presence. Having a rough day? Take a moment to worship. It’s the recognition of His Lordship in your life, and submission to His Lordship. People talk about wanting to experience His presence all the time, and yet they don’t enter into worship. You determine if you want to experience His presence, not Him. That is entirely your responsibility. When you lift your voice or bow your heart, it’s like opening a window to let His Spirit rush in, refreshing your soul, and aligning your focus.
Moreover, you don’t have to wait until you gather together with other believers and get the band to play your favorite worship song. You can do it right now, in the present, without any music. In fact, if you make it a point to worship in private, you will find that those times of corporate worship are so much more exhilarating, exciting, and celebratory when you take the time to worship the Lord on your own, outside of the corporate setting. Private worship builds a foundation that makes Sunday mornings explode with joy, because you’ve already been meeting with God all week long.
Worshiping God Aligns Your Heart with His
When your heart is in alignment with His heart, you can walk in His presence. It is so much easier to make this a way of living when you purpose in your heart to worship the Lord throughout the day. This way of living defines what a “Believer” looks like. Celebrating who the Lord is, no longer becomes a Sunday experience, but an everyday posture. Worshiping the Lord throughout the day demonstrates to the Lord that your heart is in alignment with His. Alignment means your decisions, your words, and your actions start to reflect His heart, making you a light to your family, friends, and even strangers.
Worshiping God Changes You from the Inside Out
There is always room to grow and mature in your relationship with the Lord, and that should be every man’s desire, to become more like Him. Worship is an act of humility, which is required for transformation to take place in your heart. It is the foundation needed for the Lord to work on your heart. It’s like letting God reshape the clay of your soul, smoothing out the rough edges and forming you into the man He created you to be.
If your life is a mess, worship the Lord. Worship brings healing and restoration to your soul because it moves your soul into alignment with God. When your heart is in alignment with God, He will give rest to your soul (see Matthew 11:28-29). Worship takes the chaos inside—anger, fear, or failure—and trades it for His peace, rebuilding you into a man who carries His strength.
I pray-worship all the time. “Pray-worship” is when you speak words of adoration to the Lord throughout the day. It might be when you are driving your car, or while in the supermarket, or when you get up from your desk at work on your way to the restroom. It usually is short and to the point. I do this throughout the day because I need to keep my heart in alignment with His. There is too much going on in our lives each day not to worship Him throughout the day. These quick moments of pray-worship are like anchors, keeping your heart steady no matter what storms come your way.
I encourage you to pray-worship throughout the day for two weeks, and then look back and see if, in fact, you are not a different person. Worshiping the Lord throughout the day will absolutely strengthen your relationship with Him, and as His son, you’ll find that you look a lot more like Him. You’ll notice your heart softening, your patience growing, and your faith deepening, because worship keeps you connected to the Father who made you for this purpose.