The Importance of Worship (1)

‘Let everything that has breath praise the Lord...’ Psalm 150:6 NKJV

A woman in Kansas City entered a H‰agen-Dazs store for an ice cream cone. After getting it, she turned around and found herself face-to-face with Paul Newman, who was in town filming Mr. & Mrs. Bridge. He said, ‘hello.’ His radiant blue eyes caused her knees to shake. She managed to pay for her cone, then left the shop, heart pounding. When she regained her composure she realised she didn’t have her ice cream cone. She started back into the store and met Newman at the door. ‘Are you looking for your ice cream?’ he asked. She nodded, unable to speak. ‘You put it in your purse with your change,’ he said, smiling. When was the last time your knees went weak, your pulse quickened and your heart was overwhelmed with praise to God? If you can’t remember, self-interest, busyness, or spiritual complacency may have seduced you into seeking fulfilment in lesser things. The hymn-writer defines worship as ‘Lost in wonder, love and praise.’ The Psalmist writes about the whole gamut of human emotion, but he focuses on one theme above all others: praise. In his last psalm he writes: ‘Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.’ (Psalm 150:1-6 NKJV)