Routine Worship

(Psa 42:4 KJV)  When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

(Proverbs 25 also read)

Here we read the testimony of someone who not only went to worship but was a leader.  If you look at the surrounding verses you will see that in spite of this he was not up spiritually.  That is a lesson for us.  Just because we have been at a worship service we are not automatically lifted into the presence of the Lord.

It is so easy for us to get into the ritual instead of worship.  Although worship may have elements of ritual, it is really supposed to be a time where we reach out to God and listen for Him reaching out to us.  We can make substitutions but we will eventually miss what God has to say to us.

Ritual also allows us to go into automatic mode.  God is not impressed.  Your mother may get excited when you send her a card on her birthday but God would know you wife actually got it on its way.

So?  Focus.  Listen.  God will make your worship worthwhile.