I sometimes struggle with worshiping on autopilot.
That struggle can happen for any number of reasons, but one that I don’t often think about is familiarity.
I’ve been in and around church and worship services since before I could walk. Many parts of the worship service are so familiar and ingrained in me that I can “participate” without really thinking about the words I’m saying, singing, and praying.
The same can be true for the words I’m hearing—Bible readings can go in one ear and out the other without ever going down into my heart. I can go through the motions of worship outwardly . . . but inwardly, my mind can be far away.
The fact that I’m familiar with the ins and outs of worship services isn’t my problem. Familiarity is a good thing!
Of course, I can point to my sinful nature as the problematic root cause of worshiping on autopilot. The devil also tempts me to have a distracted worship experience. Being fully present during the worship service is not something either the devil or my sinful nature wants. Distractions and temptations are everywhere else in life—why would they not be present in God’s house?
But considering what else influences my problem of worshiping on autopilot, another definite factor is not being mindful of what happens during each part of the worship service. I don’t think about the different answers to the question of “Why?”
Why do we worship the way we do as Christians? Why do many churches have traditional worship services? Is it the age-old excuse of “Well, it’s the way we’ve always done things,” or is something else going on?
Answers to those questions help ground me during worship services. They help me be mindful of what is happening on any given Sunday as I go to church to hear about my Savior’s great love for me and discover the incredible joy of what worship is all about: not focusing on what I do for God, but focusing on what he has done, is doing, and promises he will do for Jesus’ sake. It’s all about our Savior Jesus.
If you’re like me, looking to push past the temptations and distractions of worshiping on autopilot and learning more about the joy of worshiping in our Father’s house, I’ve found that these two books have helped me—maybe they’ll help you too:
Our Worth to Him: Devotions for Christian Worship by Dr. Mark Paustian is a collection of short devotions that reveal why Christians worship the way we do—and where God is throughout the seemingly ordinary parts of the worship service.
On Any Given Sunday: The Story of Christ in the Divine Service by Dr. Michael Berg masterfully invites readers into the story of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection as seen on vivid display in the traditional divine service.
Both of these engaging books help readers grow in appreciation for their worship service and—even more important—for our amazing Savior who promises that where we are gathered together in his name, there he is with us.
If you’d like to hear Dr. Berg talk about deepening our worship experience—pushing past the feeling of routine, worshiping on autopilot, and discovering the beautiful story of Christ unfolding in the service—check out the latest episode of the Faith Footnotes podcast.
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Alex Brown is the marketing and content copywriter at Northwestern Publishing House. He has his Master of Divinity degree from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and enjoys reading, writing, and spending time in God’s creation.
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