To be a true worshipper of God, we must worship Him “in spirit and in truth.” Our spirits must worship him; true worship, that is, must come from the inner self, from the heart and mind. It is not a matter of mere outward rituals. But true worship must also be in accord with God’s truth and will as revealed to us in the Bible.
True worship must be “in spirit,” that is, engaging the whole heart. Unless there’s a real passion for God, there is no worship in spirit. At the same time, worship must be “in truth,” that is, properly informed. Unless we have knowledge of the God we worship, there is no worship in truth. Both are necessary for God-honoring worship. Spirit without truth leads to a shallow, overly emotional experience that could be compared to a high. As soon as the emotion is over, when the fervor cools, the worship ends. Truth without spirit can result in a dry, passionless encounter that can easily lead to a form of joyless legalism. The best combination of both aspects of worship results in a joyous appreciation of God informed by Scripture. The more we know about God, the more we appreciate Him. The more we appreciate, the deeper our worship. The deeper our worship, the more God is glorified.
And we pray:
O Everlasting Spirit and Creator of all creaturely spirits, our spirits long to worship You, to know You, and to praise You for Your great, incomprehensible glory. We desire to worship You from a true heart and a pure mind and to do so in accordance with Your truth. Grant us, we pray, our request, and make us more and more true worshippers of You we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.