DATE POSTED
Sunday, July 5, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Westgate Blue Tree Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Feel free to read the following Scriptures in your personal Bible.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 ~ As you enter the Temple, keep your ears open and your mouth shut! Don’t be a fool who doesn’t even realize it is sinful to make rash promises to God, for he is in heaven and you are only here on earth, so let your words be few. (TLB)

Psalm 89:6-7 ~ For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord? Who among the divine beings is like the Lord, a God greatly feared and reverently worshiped in the council of the holy [angelic] ones, and awesome above all those who are around Him? (AMP)

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

On a day when many will gather to worship the King of kings and Lord of lords, I thought this would be a fitting devotional to help us prepare our hearts for worship. You may remind me that you put on your Sunday best, maybe even take an extra shower, so you present yourself well before the people of God. Those things are certainly appropriate. But the Bible teaches us to prepare ourselves to meet the God of the universe in worship. Is your heart prepared for that?

Let’s remind ourselves what God’s Word teaches. As we accept Jesus as Lord and continue growing in our relationship with God through His Son, we learn more and more that His ways are not our ways. Because of who He is, we recognize our proper place whenever we come before Him. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, let’s take a moment to reflect on where we came from.

Before Christ: You saw little need for Jesus or the local church, beyond the occasional wedding or funeral. When you did attend, you simply followed the example of others — you dressed as they dressed, behaved courteously, and tried to fit in. Church attendance felt more like learning proper etiquette than worship. You may not have known the hymns or songs, but you did your best to follow along.

You knew nothing of the warning found in Ecclesiastes 5, yet because you felt out of place, you naturally kept your words few. You may even remember asking someone from the church to visit and pray for one of your parents during a hospital stay. Still, you couldn’t understand why anyone would need a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Life seemed enjoyable enough without Him, and church simply didn’t seem necessary.

Then one evening everything changed. You sensed a quiet voice prompting you to consider the purpose of your life, and where you would spend eternity if your life ended that very night. When you shared those thoughts with the friend you had met at church, they assured you it was the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart, for sinful people do not naturally dwell on godly matters. That became your day of decision. You surrendered your life to Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord!

After Christ: Thank God you took that decision seriously. You wanted to learn the truths of God’s Word and develop a personal relationship with the Jesus you had accepted as Lord. Almost immediately, you experienced a wonderful sense of peace, purpose, and calm because you now belonged to Him. Your life felt complete, knowing that God loved you enough to sacrifice His own Son as the substitute for the sin that had separated you from Him.

Scriptures like Psalm 89 remind us that we are not alone in approaching God with reverence. Even the holy angels stand in awe of Him as they gather around His throne in worship.

My experience was much the same. Before Christ, my understanding of church was to dress neatly, remain quiet, sing only when everyone else sang, and respond only when directed through the liturgy. After accepting Christ, I began attending a much more expressive and interactive church. Because the style of worship was so different, I wanted to be certain I was still worshiping in a God-honoring, Bible-believing church.

As I studied God’s Word, I discovered that the style of worship is not the primary issue — the condition of the heart is. Psalm 89 reminds us who is worthy of our worship. God alone deserves our praise, honor, and reverence. True worship flows from a heart that loves Him, not merely from following the instructions of a pastor or worship leader.

That is why it is so important to prepare our hearts before we ever walk through the church doors. Worship is a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. If we worship Him privately at home and seek Him throughout the week, our public worship simply becomes an overflow of what He has already been doing in our hearts. Whether others worship exactly as you do is not the issue. Just be careful never to draw attention to yourself. We gather to give all praise, worship, honor, and glory to the Master of our lives and the Head of His church.

Never forget that our God reigns. He alone deserves to rule and reign in our lives. Worship is one of the ways we acknowledge His lordship and thank Him for His goodness, grace, and unfailing love. There is no greater love than the love we have been blessed to receive from our Savior.

If you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I pray these thoughts resonate with your heart, because they align with the truths of His Word. If you have not yet accepted Him as Lord, I pray this devotional helps answer some of the questions or concerns you may have had about church and worship.

Please take time to speak with a Bible-believing pastor, or feel free to respond to this email or post. I would be honored to pray with you and help answer any questions you may have about the voice of God speaking to your heart.

My friend, it is vitally important that you respond when God calls.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege of coming into Your presence through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Forgive us for the times we have entered Your house with distracted minds or unprepared hearts. Help us to remember that You are the sovereign God of heaven and earth, worthy of all honor, reverence, and praise.

Prepare our hearts before we ever step into a place of worship. May our songs, prayers, and acts of praise flow from a heart that genuinely loves and adores You, rather than from routine or obligation. Teach us to worship You not only on Sundays but every day of our lives, allowing our private worship to overflow into our public worship.

May our lives continually acknowledge that You alone reign as Lord. We humbly surrender ourselves to Your will and ask that You shape us into faithful worshipers who bring glory to Your holy name.

In the precious name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!