“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”

John 4:23 NIV

In January a friend invited me to be in a prayer group with her and some other gals. We meet once a month and pray for each other and our families. It has been so encouraging.

In our prayer time last week, we decided to go with the theme of advent, of waiting. My friend, Ginger, asked, “What are some things you’re waiting on?” We all took turns listing out both big and little things we are waiting for, then we prayed about them.

After our prayer meeting, I ran some errands. As I waited in line at a store, inevitable this time of year, I decided to turn my waiting in line into worshipping. I smiled at the people around me. I prayed for the cashier who helped a couple in front of me. I looked around and noticed other shoppers and prayed for them. The waiting didn’t seem quite so long anymore.

It hit me later how this little decision can make a difference not just in the little times of waiting, but as we wait for big things that take more time to come to fruition.

Worship can help the waiting seem to pass more quickly because it takes our eyes off us and what we want and turns them to God and others. 

Sometimes we think worship is singing a song in church. While that is one way to worship, there are so many others. Worship, put simply, is offering ourselves and our praise and thanks to God. It is acknowledging that He is God and worthy of our time, devotion, and affection.

The expressions of worship can vary, like singing, praying, being grateful, and using our resources to help others. There are so many possibilities!

This busy Christmas season and into the New Year, let’s turn our waiting into worshipping:

• While we’re in that long line at the post office, we can worship.

• When that red light seems to take forever to turn green, we can worship.

• As we eagerly wait for Christmas Day to come, we can worship.

• While we long for a friendship, marriage, or baby, we can worship.

• As we wait for doors to open and provision to come, we can worship.

Whatever we’re waiting on, let’s worship while we wait!