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“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

John 4:23–24, LSB

God does not desire an appearance of worship. He does not seek for us to be merely seen as a people that offer our devotion. God seeks our hearts, our minds, and our souls. In the Bible and throughout history, we can find examples of people feigning devotion to God. There are spiritual leaders that have spoken in the name of God, but are seeking only to benefit themselves. This is not God’s will and He deals with them. We should pray for those that act in such ways, but they are not the primary concern we should hold. In witnessing false devotion and fake worship we are called to check ourselves and ensure that our hearts are after God. He desires for us to make an honest assessment of our worship. If we are failing or feel as though we are falling short, He calls us to correction. In golf, we could call this a mulligan or, in other words, a do-over. As in anything, in life we are called to be cautious and thoughtful. Eventually, the chance we take could be our last and we are reminded not to test God’s mercy. As we walk in faith, God desires our hearts to seek after His and be in devotion to His Word and worship Him without reservation of our spirit. As we seek after Him and seek to do His will in our lives we will find that there will be change and we will fully know His peace.

Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.