Worshiping With Our Whole Selves
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
1 When you do good deeds, don't try to show off. If you do, you won't get a reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to the poor, don't blow a loud horn. That's what show-offs do in the synagogues and on the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can assure you that they already have their reward. 3 When you give to the poor, don't let anyone know about it. 4 Then your gift will be given in secret. Your Father knows what is done in secret and will reward you. 5 When you pray, don't be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward. 6 When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private and will reward you. 7 When you pray, don't talk on and on as people do who don't know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. 8 Don't be like them. Your Father knows what you need even before you ask.
Matthew 6:1-8
Memory Verse
Romans 12:1
1 Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God.
What do you do with your body when you pray? Do you fold your hands? Close your eyes? Kneel on the ground? Or maybe you clap, dance, and sing? Did you know all those are wonderful ways to talk to God?
The Bible shows people talking to God in many different ways. Sometimes they kneel and close their eyes as they raise their hands above their heads (Psalm 95:6, 1 Timothy 2:8); sometimes they stand and clap (Psalm 47:1); sometimes they dance (2 Samuel 6:14-15).
And prayer isn’t the only way to talk to God. Just like you can show your love to your friends by sharing with them, we also communicate with God through our actions, like serving others (John 13:5-14) or participating in communion and baptism (Acts 2:38-42).
When we talk to God, we still want to be reverent, which means we want to honor him. For example, if you’re dancing, you’re not trying to be silly to make everyone else laugh. You focus just on God as if only God is watching. When you’re praying, you’re not yelling and using big words so that others think you’re smart or holy; your prayer is a private conversation with God alone. When you’re being reverent, you’re thinking only of him.
So this week, when you worship, try to talk to God in a way that honors him, whether kneeling on the ground, folding hands, singing, clapping, lifting your arms in lament, or washing someone else’s feet.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for giving us bodies that move, wriggle, and dance. We love to move them to worship and adore you. Amen.Related Resources
Christina Van Starkenburg
Christina Van Starkenburg is an award-winning freelance writer and author of The Key Thief and One Tiny Turtle: A Story You Can Colour. In her free time, she enjoys reading, dancing, and exploring the world with her husband and three kids. Visit her at www.christinavanstarkenburg.com to read more.