Worship or Prayer?

 I have noticed something in many of the songs that we sing in church. These songs sound more like prayer than worship. We sing like we are asking God to do something. I first noticed how much of our worship music is focused on I, me, or my, and not on God. Then I noticed how much of our worship music is a prayer. It made me wonder if the people who write modern worship music know that there is a big difference between prayer and worship?

Prayer, at it's core, is communication. We speak to God and we listen to what God would say to us. How many times have you heard a pastor say that he was inspired on what to preach during prayer? Prayer is something that primarily focuses on my needs and my shortcomings and what I am asking God to do for me and my church.

Worship, at it's core, is about giving glory and honor and praise to God for what He has done and is doing.  It is not about how I feel about God. It is about how great and awesome God is. Worship in Spirit and in truth is God focused. It helps turn our attention off of ourselves and it helps us look to God.

"We all hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." Acts 2:11

When the Holy Spirit is present, the focus will be on God, not my needs or my feelings.

"For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God" 1Cor.14:2

Pastor Wayman went for a time when he seemed to preach on worship a lot. He must have seen something that troubled him in modern music. Much modern worship music was written by people who are not saved or Spirit filled but are clever in writing and arranging music. Old hymns may be out of date and out of style. But those that wrote those ancient hymns had an experience that shines through their music.

To sum this up; prayer and worship are not the same thing. Singing your prayers is not the same as praying.  Worship ought to focus our hearts and minds on the glory of God in Christ. 

"You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship...the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." John4:22-23

True worship is spiritual, not emotional. God is still looking for those who worship Him.