What do we mean when we say something like “The worship was good today at church?”

Many of us refer to the song time as worship. So we might mean that we liked–or even just knew–the songs. We might mean that we were in good voice, or the worship team was. Or we could be referring to a lack of distractions or feeling uplifted after the song service.

But what about when we don’t know the songs? Or they’re too high or low for our range? Or they’re not our favorites? Or there are technological glitches or distractions?

Does God not still deserve to be worshiped even then?

Someone at my alma mater used to say that worship is worth-ship–ascribing to God His worth. It’s not that He needs worship. He is secure in who He is. But we need to worship: first of all because He is worthy, but also because if we don’t see Him aright, we’ll likely be off in other areas of our heart and lives.

We can ascribe to God His worth in so much more than the musical part of the service: in paying attention during the Sunday School lesson and sermon, in giving, in reaching out to others.

And we can worship everywhere, not just at church. Yes, there is much of value in worshiping God together as a family of believers, and we’re commanded to do so.

Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” That’s every day, every moment:

-praying for patience and kind words when we want to lash out so we can better reflect God to others.

-listening to praise music when we’re stuck in traffic.

-when appliances break down, remembering that nothing in the world is permanent and we have a better home in heaven. We can lay up treasure “where moth and rust do not corrupt.”

-remembering God’s patient, loving care of us while we’re calming a fretful child.

-reminding ourselves, when we’re doing some household task we don’t like, that we’re imitating a God who brings order out of chaos.

We associate worship with a good feeling. Pastor Erwin Lutzer has said, “Worship that is not based on God’s Word is but an emotional encounter with oneself.”

But we can worship in spite of feelings. Job worshiped after everything was taken from him. David worshiped in caves hiding from enemies who were trying to kill him. Paul worshiped while in prison.

Elisabeth Elliot has said, “Worship is not feeling. Worship is not an experience. Worship is an act, and this takes discipline. We are to worship in spirit and in truth. Never mind about the feelings. We are to worship in spite of them.” (from Let Me Be a Woman).

Sometimes worship spontaneously flows while singing praise songs or reading the psalms. But other times, we have to deliberately turn our minds to who He is and what He has done for us. Romans 12:2 talks about being “transformed by the renewal of your mind.” The more time we spend in God’s Word, the more He can transform our thinking, no matter the circumstances.

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