Where Do We Worship?

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6, NIV).

I was driving to the gym after work the other day and turned up the radio. I realized it had been a while since I’d listened to any worship music. I pulled into the parking lot, and turned on my Christian Contemporary radio station on Pandora to listen while I walked on the treadmill. I quickly found myself in a space of worship that I didn’t realize my heart needed. 

As I walked that day, there was a moment when the Lord spoke to my heart and reminded me to keep my focus on Jesus. Over the previous several weeks, I’d been in a space of struggling to figure out “what’s next” with my writing, speaking, and all things ministry related. Am I supposed to be writing another book? Am I supposed to be seeking opportunities to speak and share about Jesus? Am I supposed to invest more in growing my website?

I realized my focus had shifted from the Who to the what. Though I feel confident in the purpose God has placed on my life to write, speak, and share the Good News of the Gospel, I never want the what to become greater than the Who.

As I continued to reflect I began to ask myself these questions: Had my focus been on opportunities to sell books, speak at events, and grow my following? Or had my focus been on Jesus? I knew it was more the former, and less the latter.

I don’t believe that prayerfully seeking those opportunities is a bad thing, but I do always want my focus to be on Jesus. I think at times we allow ourselves to believe that worship can only happen inside a church building, or during a worship night. But we can worship anywhere.

It can be in our physical therapy clinic.

It can be in our classrooms.

It can be in our homes as we care for our children, or grandchildren.

It can be on the stops we make along the garbage pickup route.

It can be at a coffee shop. 

I’m guilty of allowing myself to focus on problem solving, figuring out the next big thing, and trying to make things happen on my own. But when I keep my focus on Jesus, have ears to hear and eyes to see where He is leading me, He always takes me to heights that I could never achieve on my own. 

Join me today to pause and ask this question: Where am I focusing my worship? Be prepared, ask expectantly, and allow Jesus to show us the answer.