18/10/2025
We've all been there: Sunday morning rush, scrambling for Bibles, phones, and a semblance of order before heading out the door. We arrive at church, ready for worship to begin. But what if the most impactful worship of the week doesn't actually kick off when the music starts or the sermon is delivered? What if the most profound worship happens before we even step through those doors? This week, let's explore what it means to worship before the worship gathering, and how intentional preparation can truly transform our communal experience.
1️⃣ Prepare Your Heart
True worship isn't just an action; it's an attitude – a heart ready to receive and respond to God. Individual preparation is key. This means personal reflection, confession, and prayer.
As Psalm 51:10 (ESV) reminds us, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."
Here's how you can put this into practice:
✔️ Confess and Cleanse: Before Sunday, take time to confess any sin or frustration from the week. Don't carry that spiritual baggage into the sanctuary.
✔️ Pray for the Service: Pray for your pastor, the worship leaders, volunteers, and fellow congregants. Ask the Holy Spirit to move powerfully and open hearts.
✔️ Quiet Your Soul: Spend a few quiet moments on Saturday evening or Sunday morning to simply be still and remind your soul of who God is.
2️⃣ Prepare Your Home
Worship isn't just individual; it's a lifestyle that should permeate our lives. Our homes can and should be training grounds for worship, fostering an environment where God is the central focus.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (ESV) instructs us: "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
Consider these practical steps:
✔️ Set the Atmosphere: Play worship music in your home on Sunday morning. Let the sound of praise fill your space as you get ready.
Talk About It: As you drive to church, talk to your family about what you anticipate. Ask your children what they're excited to learn or what songs they hope to sing.
✔️ Pray Together: Pause for a brief family prayer before you leave the house, asking God to bless your time together as a church family.
3️⃣ Prepare with Expectancy
When our hearts and homes are prepared, we can approach our worship gathering with joyful anticipation. We're not just showing up out of routine; we're coming with the expectation that God will be present and will work in our midst.
As Psalm 122:1 (ESV) proclaims, "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD!'"
Here's how to foster expectancy:
✔️ Arrive Early: Getting to church a little early reduces stress and allows you to greet others, transitioning from the outside world to the sacred space.
✔️ Turn Off Distractions: Consciously silence your phone and let go of the week's worries and to-do lists.
✔️ Seek Out Others: Actively look for someone to greet or encourage. This shifts your focus from being a consumer of worship to a contributor in the community.
Worship is a journey that starts long before the church doors open. It begins with preparing our own hearts, extends to preparing our homes, and culminates in a posture of joyful expectancy as we gather.
My challenge for you this week is to start your worship journey on Saturday. Don't wait until Sunday morning to prepare. Take five minutes to read a psalm, pray for the service, and intentionally invite God's presence into your week. Let's make this next Sunday a testament to our preparation, so that when we gather, our worship is not a starting point, but a powerful overflow of hearts already filled with Him.
If you want to read more Christian content and be prepared for your upcoming church gatherings, make sure to follow this page or subscribe to my YouTube channel Beloved Sonia Writes.
