Listen

All the angels stood in a circle around the throne, and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell facedown before the throne and worshipped God, saying,

Revelation 7:11–12

Think

When I was a teenager, I used to sit near the front of the church because I wanted to pay attention and understand. I would see other people crying, raising their hands, or getting moved by a song, and I often thought, “Why don’t I feel that?” For a while, I thought that maybe my way of drawing close to God wasn’t enough.

Revelation 7 depicts an intense scene of worship. There is reverence, gratitude, and voices acknowledging God’s glory, wisdom, honor, power, and strength. What unites everyone is not reacting in the same way, but recognizing who God is. That helped me understand that worship isn’t about copying someone else’s expression. It can also mean listening attentively, giving thanks, remaining silent, or deciding to follow Jesus even when you don’t feel anything extraordinary. This week, try something simple: before you sing or pray, write down three things you recognize about God and one thing for which you want to give thanks. Worship can begin with sincere attention, not with perfect emotion.

Raquel López Oliver

Question to Ponder:

What can you acknowledge and be grateful for today regarding God, even if you aren’t feeling anything extraordinary?

Pray

God, I want to learn to recognize you and thank you sincerely. May my worship come from knowing you, not from comparing myself to others. Amen.

Go

Now go back to your day. Look closely. Listen intently. Show your love through your actions. Follow Jesus in your daily life, remembering that you are not alone and that your life, too, can help someone else find their way.