Seven-Day Practical Faith Blog: Worship Where You Are

Where is God for you? Or a better way to put it, where do you experience God?

Many of us have found a place or activity where we experience God. It might be during worship service at a church building. A lot of people might respond how they experience God in nature or creation, even during the creative process. Some feel God's presence in prayer or meditation. Some will say they have experienced God in their worst moments: in a hospital room, during a dark night of the soul, in the midst of pain, despair, or anger.

St. Ignatius of Loyola is quoted as saying, "Whatever you are doing, that which makes you feel the most alive...that is where God is."

In a beautiful way, that makes sense. God gave life to each of us. If we are feeling alive, it stands to reason God is near.

So, the opposite must be true: if you want to experience God, then live your life to the fullest.

Now, that doesn't necessarily mean going on vacation. You might experience life to the fullest in the hospital room, either in the bed or by the bed. Life may be fully experienced in the depths of the soul's dark night as well as on the heights of the literal or figurative mountain you just climbed. Life, with all its joy and pain, can be deeply experienced in the healthy sonogram or in the cancer diagnosis.

We experience God in the midst of fully embracing whatever life gives us or throws at us. In fact, you might consider such experience as worship. As Paul writes in Romans 12:1 (NIV):

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

My friend Rev. Jerome Hobbs gives this benediction in his church in Mexia, Texas: "Now, go out and worship!" He is telling his congregation that worship service in a church building is one thing, but worship continues in the way we live out our seven-day practical faith.

Let's go out and worship today!

My Practical Faith Game Plan helps you to "worship" each day. It is my free gift to you for registering for my ministry newsletters. This game plan proposes a framework for living your faith every day of the week. It's useful for both new believers and for anyone wondering how to improve their faith journey. Meanwhile, my ministry newsletters offer faith tips, ministry updates, and fun, meaningful, and useful information. Sign up to receive the game plan and my newsletters now at CecilTaylorMinistries dot com, either via the pop-up box or in the sign-up section near the bottom of the home page.