Spirit of Prayerful Worship

An Old Testament hero of mine is King Hezekiah. Although not the most well known Old Testament figure, he is an inspiration because of his reforms to worship in the Temple. He became king following a series of wicked kings in Judah, but he had zeal for God and the work of public worship so he rid the sacred spaces of idols and cleaned and restored them to their former glory.

The end of the account of King Hezekiah’s life states this:

Everything he took up, whether it had to do with worship in God’s Temple or the carrying out of God’s Law and Commandments, he did well in a spirit of prayerful worship. He was a great success. (1 Chronicles 31:21, MSG)

I am drawn to the phrase “he did well in a spirit of prayerful worship.” In fact, I have this posted above my desk in my office at the church. For a long time, it served as a reminder that I need to pray over the various aspects of my ministry area. But recently it has drawn out something deeper. What does it mean to have a spirit of prayerful worship?

Worship is declaring the worthiness of God. It is acknowledging the incredible, awesome, mighty, good, loving, and perfect work of our Creator. Praying through that understanding changes us. Prayer is more than just stating needs. It is not the handwringing, anxious, and weak-hoped prayers I often find myself lifting before God. Prayerful worship is bold and unafraid. Prayerful worship is peaceful because we know that God’s work is not accomplished by our might or power, but through God’s Spirit. It is confident that our God is who He says He is.

May we all do well in a spirit of prayerful worship!

Jill Schroeder-Dorn, D.A., Director of Worship Arts