Time of Preparation
Begin by taking inventory of your surroundings. Are things in your vicinity conducive to a time of personal worship? Are there any changes or adjustments (turning off tech, making yourself comfortable) you need to make before you begin?
When you are ready, take a moment to sit in silence and prepare your heart for worship. Ask God to clear away any distractions that might keep you from being truly present in this moment. Take a few moments to breathe in and out, asking God to still your heart and mind.
SONG OF PREPARATION: Come Let Us Worship and Bow Down (from Psalm 95, lyrics here)
Encounter With God
In this first movement, we simply seek to see God for who He is: the One worthy of worship.
”The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble;
he sits enthroned between the cherubim,
let the earth shake.
Great is the Lord in Zion;
he is exalted over all the nations.
Let them praise your great and awesome name—he is holy.”
—Psalm 99:1-3 (NIV)
In the Psalms we often find language that describes God in ways that can almost seem frightening—he is the one before whom the nations tremble, he is the one who is exalted over all the nations, who is enthroned in the heavens. This is a truth that we should never lose sight of—the mightiness and awesome majesty of God are are core part of his being, and they are what drive us to our knees in worship.
But even as we acknowledge the holy, awesome transcendence of God, it provides us another touchstone for worship—gratitude that the transcendent One has become immanent in Christ. The God of all creation, who flings galaxies into space, has drawn near to us. What an absolute wonder. What a remarkable truth.
SONG OF ENCOUNTER: Everlasting God (lyrics here)
Confession
In this second movement, we simply see ourselves for who we are: people who need God.
“Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.”
—Psalm 51:1-2 (NKJV)
Psalm 51 is one of the most powerful examples of repentance in all of Scripture. It is one of those passages that can become so familiar that if we’re not careful it can lose its impact. Take some intentional time to pray this psalm, either through the song below or through your own personal reading.
Breathe in God’s invitation to bring your sin and struggles to Him. Remind yourself that his invitation is not rooted in shame, but inexhaustible love.
SONG OF CONFESSION: Psalm 51 (lyrics here)
Assurance
In this third movement, we receive the good news of the gospel: we are forgiven.
“As far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.”
—Psalm 103:12 (NRSV)
Let this verse from Psalm 103 serve as a breath prayer for the next few moments.
Breathe in as you reflect on the words “As far as the east is from the west.”
Breathe out as you reflect on the words, “So far he removes our transgressions from us.”
Repeat this breath prayer as often as you need for the words to sink in deep. This is not a discernable distance—east is as far from west as can possibly be. This is the measurement of God’s great mercy.
Commission
In this final movement, we are encouraged and equipped for the work God would have us do.
“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.
—Psalm 105:1-4 (NIV)
These few verses from Psalm 105 are deep and rich with a sense of who we’re called to be and what we’re called to do. We are people of worship, who praise God’s name. We are people of witness, who make known what he has done. We are people of praise who sing to him, we are people of testimony who tell of all his wonderful acts.
We do this as a way of glorifying in his name, all of it springs from hearts of rejoicing. And we must never forget that the strength to live this life of praise and witness comes from the Lord alone, from seeking his face and his strength.
Four verses, yet they contain a profound description of our call. Spend some time meditating on these words before you listen to our final song.
SONG OF COMMISSION: How Can I Keep From Singing (lyrics here)
Benediction
“The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
from this time forth, and even forevermore.”
—Psalm 121:8 (NKJV)