Worship isn't special

Think about things you do once a week.  Perhaps you go to the grocery store, do your laundry, clean the bathroom, take out the trash, or mow the lawn.  These are just ordinary routine things.  What about things you do every day? Things like taking a shower, brushing your teeth, going to work, making the bed, and eating come to mind.  These activities are also simply routine. We may not even think about them sometimes, but they get done.  They are just part of life.

Our Godly worship should be no different.  It should be routine. By "worship" I mean worship in the wide sense, any way in which we are hearing from God through His Word or approaching God with our prayer, thanks, and praise. Going to church every week should be as routine as going to the grocery store or doing the laundry.  Reading or listening to your Bible, having a devotion, and praying should be as routine as eating or brushing your teeth.  Taking time to be with God in prayer and reading His word are just part of the Christian life. They should be ordinary for us.

Perhaps the title of this article is a bit provocative. Worship isn't "special" in the sense that it isn't reserved for "special" days.  Of course, certain church festivals may have special ceremonies or music on Sunday morning, but worship is to be an everyday/every week part of the Christian's life. Though worship should not be unusual for us, it is "holy." Which means it is set apart; it looks different than all the other routine things we do during the week. It is sacred time, dedicated to the things of God, time to let God speak to and feed our bodies and souls, time to return to Him in repentance and faith, and to thank Him for His goodness.

We all know how difficult it can be to start a new habit and likewise how difficult it can be to break an old habit.  If you've ever tried to get a child to change some habit one way or the other, you know the challenge.  It is the same with our worship. It can be hard to start a habit like reading the Bible every day or prioritizing weekly worship. But it’s worth it, and when it becomes routine it just becomes a part of normal life. And what a blessing it is for worship to be ordinary!