When you have nothing else to think about, what does your mind run to? This is a good way to test our worship and even our idols. If our minds run to a person, security, a career, something out there in the future, then maybe that thing is what we most long for—maybe that thing is an idol—what we’re worshiping. If our minds run to something we have (a person, thing, or experience), maybe that thing is an idol. It is easy to see when we’re completely still and our minds have nothing required of them, what do our minds move to? Career, pleasure, security, desire, person, smartphone? Or God himself? If you are a follower of Jesus, in love with God, and a worshiper of Christ, your mind should often run to the glory, grandeur, worth, praise, majesty, and beauty of God through Jesus Christ. 

As followers of Jesus who have experienced the gracious redemption of a glorious Savior, contemplating God through Christ is an act of worship. Anselm put it this way, "God is that, than which nothing greater can be conceived." You will not think a better or more lasting thought today than any true thought you think about God in worship.

The two Journey Outcomes for worship are as follows:

Personal: Say or sing praise to God daily from Scripture and in prayer. 

Corporate: Engage intentionally in gathered worship. (Gather weekly, sing joyfully, listen attentively, take notes, give generously). 

Let me encourage you this week to make time to say or sing praise to God daily. Tell him his greatness. Ascribe to him his worth. Praise him for his glory. Thank him for his goodness to you. Daily worship and praise should be the way we live.

When you come to worship this upcoming Sunday, plan to be engaged. Sing, listen, take notes, give, and participate in worship.

To get very practical for a moment, let me make a recommendation to you. Would you take whatever calendar you use and put your Sunday morning worship on the calendar? This will do two things. First, it sets worship as a priority. Things that go on the calendar in our shared google calendar are things we don't want to forget. So just the act of putting your gathered worship on the calendar is a way to set a priority. Second, it will remind you that you're missing worship if you put an event on your calendar that overlaps on a Sunday. I understand there are reasons we can't have perfect attendance for gathered weekly worship (work, sickness, travel). But I'm afraid too many professing Christians treat gathered worship as something to do if nothing else is happening.

Biblically, it is untenable to be a Christian who does not regularly gather for worship. It is impossible to follow Jesus without worshiping Jesus. Gathered worship for the follower of Jesus should be a priority.

You may find it beneficial to put your daily devotion (Bible reading, prayer, and personal worship) on a calendar as well. I have it on a weekly calendar that I use for personal scheduling and keeping my life on track.

Let's put this past Sunday's sermon into action and worship personally each day and corporately as we gather this upcoming Sunday.