I was thinking about the rain the other day and I began to think about worship. Since the day the Lord showed me the connection between rain and worship, I can't think of one without thinking about the other.

 

Worship is defined in the Strong's as to bow down or reverence. In the online dictionary it is defined as reverent love, devotion and to honor. In John 4, the Bible talks about true worshippers, those who worship God in spirit and in truth. A true worshipper will worship God in good times and bad, worship is not seasonal, it is a matter of the heart. Someone who is devoted to God and who desires to honor God at all times will worship Him regardless of what is going on around them...yet worship has many faces.

 

One way we worship God is to exalt Him, to lift Him up above our circumstances. We do that by continuing to declare His word in the midst of test and trials. We do that by refusing to bow to discouragement and disappointment. We do that by continually remembering that He is above all and His ways are far above ours.

 

I love the story of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham had believed God for Isaac for many years, finally his promised arrived, his son, Isaac. How he must have loved this boy, this gift from God. Yet one day God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son, his only son. I can't even imagine how that must have felt in Abraham's heart and emotions - the questions that must have been going through his mind - but he did not question God and he did not hesitate to do what God had asked of Him.

 

In Genesis 22:5 the Bible says that as Abraham found the place where he would sacrifice his only son, he told his servant this; we are going up here to worship God and we will be back. Abraham called his sacrifice worship. He called what God had required of him worship. This was a worship that was costly, this was a worship that was a sacrifice, this was the heart of a father worshipping the one true Father with the very best gift he had. That is one face of worship.

 

Then I think about King David, his son lay dying, he cried out to God to save him, yet he died. The Bible says he bowed and worshipped God. This is another face of worship.

 

In Deuteronomy 26 the Bible says when we give our first fruits it is an act of worship to God. Did you realize that each time you give your tithe or sow an offering that it is an act of worship? It is, according to the Bible, each time you give financially to God, it is a form of worship. And when you worship God in your finances, He will cause rain to come down and produce a great harvest, a seed must have rain, and rain comes from worship, and giving is an act of divine worship.

 

Another way we worship God is to obey Him and His word. 2 Chronicles tells us that those who obey God are worshippers of God.

 

All this talk about worship, why is it so important? Because the word of God says in Zechariah 14 that when we fail to worship God then there will be no rain in our lives. Rain represents the blessings of God...no worship, no rain...no blessings. On the other hand, when we worship God in the many ways of worship, there will be rain.

 

I know when I was going through the motions last week my worship was silent. It was all I had at the time; my worship was in the form of continuing to trust God even when I didn't understand. My worship was in not questioning God when I had so many questions in my mind.

 

My worship was in continuing to seek His word instead of my will. My worship was silent, but it was there and I felt the rain of His presence with me and my family all week.

 

When you sacrifice something like Abraham did...that is worship. When you trust God when you have lost someone you love, like David did...that too is worship. When you give unto God the tithe that belongs to Him each week that is worship. When you sow a seed of offering to the Lord...you have worshipped Him with your finances. If you worship, it will rain. It will rain on your family, your life, your finances, your job...in whatever way you worship...it will bring forth rain.

 

It is my prayer for you today that as you worship God in the many ways we worship, that you will feel the rain of His spirit falling on you in abundance...worship Him today and enjoy the rain.