What is Worship?
Four Approaches to Worshiping God Daily

When you hear the word “worship,” what comes to mind? Perhaps you equate worship to a genre of music, a Sunday-morning service, or a special “feeling” you get when you’re caught up in a song. Our human tendency is to make worship about ourselves—our experiences, our emotions, our preferences. However, Scripture paints a far bigger picture. 

What is worship? Romans 12:1-2 says: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” 

Worship is our total response to God’s mercy. It is both internal and external, beginning with a mind that is being renewed and transformed, then flowing into action. Worship is not an event; it is our identity expressed outwardly to a Holy God. 

We All Worship Something 

Whether we realize it or not, every human being is a worshiper. If we are not worshiping God, we WILL worship something else—success, relationships, comfort, approval, even ourselves. Romans 1:25 warns that humanity tends to “exchange the truth about God for a lie, and worship and serve created things rather than the Creator.” In Mathew 6:21, Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 

What we worship reveals what we value most. Part of our identity as Christ followers is found in directing our worship toward the only One worthy of it: the Living God. With this in mind, here are four approaches to worship that you can apply to your daily life:

1. Worship is a Lifestyle

All of life is an opportunity to worship. Whether or not we take advantage of those opportunities is up to us. Worship is a choice. Colossians 3:17 says, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” When we have a mind that is constantly being renewed, we can look at our daily lives and find ways to give glory and honor to the Lord. 

2. Worship is a Sacrifice  

Hebrews 13:15 calls our praise “a sacrifice.” That means worship is not about chasing an emotional high. Instead, it’s a deliberate, sometimes excruciatingly painful act of honoring God simply because He is worthy—whether we feel it or not.  

In my own life, the practical reality of worship has come to light in a very tangible way as my mom recently came to live with us unexpectedly. The transition has been an uphill learning curve to say the least, but there is also beauty to be found in it. In this season, when I have the right mindset, the Lord has shown me that caring for her is an act of worship.  

I can choose to praise the Lord that my mom is still here on this earth. I can choose to rejoice that, even given our complicated history, I have an opportunity to foster a relationship with her. I could choose to see her care as a burden, another task added to my already full plate, or I can seek to view this as an opportunity to honor and glorify the Lord. This deliberate action also brings dignity and honor to my mom. With the right heart posture, caring for her becomes an act of worship

 3. Worship is Both Private and Communal 

Worship is both deeply personal and beautifully communal. Privately, we meet God in prayer, through meditation on Scripture and daily surrender to His will and ways. This time on our own is important and formative.  

Personal worship fuels passion that spills over into our worship together as a community. Joining as one body, we declare His worth together through music, the reading of the Word, remembering His sacrifice through communion, and celebrating new life in Him through baptism.  

4. Worship is Our Identity 

Ultimately, worship is not something we attend—it’s who we are. As believers, we were created and redeemed to glorify God with our whole lives. When we embrace worship as our identity, we stop compartmentalizing our faith and start living with a God-centered vision. Every breath, every moment, every act of obedience becomes worship unto Him. 

God’s Worthiness Demands a Response

Worship is not optional. It is the only fitting response to who God is and what He has done through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus doesn’t call us to worship just with our lips, but with our lives. Matthew 15:8 warns of people who honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him. True worship is consistent—it flows from the inside out. 

When we grasp God’s holiness, grace, and love, we cannot stay neutral. Our whole lives become an offering. Our identity becomes worshiper—not just on Sunday, but every day. So what does this look like in real life? It means asking simple but profound questions throughout the day: 

• Who am I honoring with this choice?
• Does this reflect the character of Christ?
• Am I living for God’s glory or my own comfort?

True worship is a heart fully surrendered to God and a life fully lived for Him. This is our calling. This is our identity. In Christ, we are worshipers.