Devotion in Worship – Part 1
Categories: Bible Study Lessons, Bulletin Articles, Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Devotion, Devotion in Worship, Worship
“And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there” (Matthew 14:23).
“How is your prayer life?” What a question! Who can say, “I am perfectly satisfied with my prayer life. I just do not know how it could get any better”? We allow too many carnal things to compete for our attention, and prayer demands our full attention!
All worship (public or private) demands full attention. How could it be any other way? Does the Ruler of the Cosmos, the Almighty God who created the heavens, the earth, and all that is in them, deserve anything less than one’s full attention? God is worthy to be praised (Psalm 22:4)!
Culture, however, is defined by inattention. News is given in “headlines.” Entertaining videos are displayed in “shorts.” Some advertisements are now just 5 seconds long and then “skip.” Anything more and they lose attention. “Scrolling” shifts focus from one quick blurb/image to another.
Not any one thing keeps attention very long. Ironically, the thing that holds attention the longest is that which shifts attention the quickest – the so-called “smart device”! Who reads paper books anymore? Who can pay attention that long?
A survey of 96,000 college students reported that 44% show symptoms of depression, 37% have anxiety disorders, and 15% have seriously considered committing suicide.[1] These numbers are growing. What is at the root of it?
Scripture gives us answers. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3). Consider the wording, “whose mind is stayed on You.” This is the focus of one’s attention on God. Peace is a blessing that results from focusing upon and trusting in the Lord.
God bless you, and I love you.
Kevin Cauley
[1] Shine, Kim North. “College Students Anxiety, Depression Higher Than Ever, But So Are Efforts to Receive Care.” Michigan News, University of Michigan, 9 March 2023, https://news.umich.edu/college-students-anxiety-depression-higher-than-ever-but-so-are-efforts-to-receive-care/