After dinner a couple of nights ago, we played five-hand Hearts together with the family. I decided to be nice to my mother-in-law and not pass her the Queen of Spades (which is 13 points against whoever gets it at the end of the hand, for those non-Heart players). Her response was classic – “Thanks! You have my eternal praise and gratitude – for awhile, at least.” I followed up with, “Great. Now I know how God feels!”

Isn’t our worship too often like that? We pour our hearts out to God, only to forget about Him days or even hours later. I often wonder what it would be like to truly be a 24/7 worshipper. I have to be honest when I say that I’m not sure my worldly self really would want that. In that context, worship is the opposite of sin – expressing love, gratitude and fellowship with the Father versus turning to our own ways and hoping He doesn’t see.

Of course, not all worship has to be what happens in The Church. But then, what is the line between prayer and worship? Between fellowship through studying God’s word and the face-down total prostrate posture of obedience and yielding? Between John reclining against Jesus’ side at the supper table, and the same John falling down as though dead before the vision of the risen Christ?

I’m not much for answers in this area. But I do know that that simple exchange between myself and my mother-in-law brought the irony of our typical worship experiences to a better light for me. “Father God, you have my eternal praise and adoration – for awhile.”

Will I be saying that tomorrow as I worship with the folks at Mesilla Park Church?