Back to a Heart of Worship
by John Rogers
In 1999, Matt Redman wrote one of the most cherished worship songs of all time–"The Heart of Worship." In this song, Redman comes to God in confession. He confesses that, even in the midst of worldwide fame, riches, and a successful worship ministry, all he really has that is pleasing to God is Jesus. He’s sorry, he cries, for what he has turned worship into. And then he utters his humble understanding that what God actually requires of him is not another “song in itself,” but of Matt himself.
I think Abram came to the same understanding in Genesis 13. When we see him enter the promised land in chapter 12, verses 7 and 8 tell us that he built an altar and called upon the name of the Lord. Gordon J. Wenham says, “God’s gracious promise prompted Abram to repeated acts of thankful worship.” Abram had a heart of worship.
We then find him in chapter 12 verses 10-20 at one of his lowest times spiritually and geographically. We see him walking away from the land of promise, walking in fear and anxiety, and therefore walking in deceit and a desire only for himself. But in chapter 13 we see him, like Redman and many countless others since the release of that song, come back to a heart of worship.
Genesis 13:1-4 says:
So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb. Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made an altar at the first (see chapter 12:7-8). And there Abram called upon the name of the LORD.
Abram came back to a heart of worship. And because of this we see him no longer walking in fear, anxiety, deceit, or desire for himself. Rather we see a man walking in faith, security, benevolence, and a desire for peace.
Where is your heart today? If you’re not sure, spend some time after reading this in a time of silence and ask the Lord, “Lord, search me and know me, try me and know my anxious thoughts. For…
You search much deeper within,
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart.
Bring me back to a heart of worship.
I think Abram came to the same understanding in Genesis 13. When we see him enter the promised land in chapter 12, verses 7 and 8 tell us that he built an altar and called upon the name of the Lord. Gordon J. Wenham says, “God’s gracious promise prompted Abram to repeated acts of thankful worship.” Abram had a heart of worship.
We then find him in chapter 12 verses 10-20 at one of his lowest times spiritually and geographically. We see him walking away from the land of promise, walking in fear and anxiety, and therefore walking in deceit and a desire only for himself. But in chapter 13 we see him, like Redman and many countless others since the release of that song, come back to a heart of worship.
Genesis 13:1-4 says:
So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb. Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made an altar at the first (see chapter 12:7-8). And there Abram called upon the name of the LORD.
Abram came back to a heart of worship. And because of this we see him no longer walking in fear, anxiety, deceit, or desire for himself. Rather we see a man walking in faith, security, benevolence, and a desire for peace.
Where is your heart today? If you’re not sure, spend some time after reading this in a time of silence and ask the Lord, “Lord, search me and know me, try me and know my anxious thoughts. For…
You search much deeper within,
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart.
Bring me back to a heart of worship.
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