Discover the joy of seeking God with urgency and action, just like the shepherds. Worship through simple, heartfelt responses, and enjoy a fun idea to make Christmas meaningful for kids!
Have you ever wondered why giving glory to God feels so right?
How did your challenge go yesterday? Did you put on your dancing shoes and sing praise to God? When we fully engage in worship—with our whole heart, mind, and soul—joy is released in our spirit, drawing us closer to God in a way that feels both natural and fulfilling.
The Westminster Catechism begins with this thought-provoking question:
“What is the chief end of man?”
The answer: “To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
Worship is not a duty—it’s a gift. It’s the reason we were created, and when we engage in it fully, it connects us to the eternal purpose and joy God has for our lives. Worship should feel as natural as breathing, but life’s distractions often get in the way, don’t they? Let’s take a moment to learn from the shepherds who glorified God with urgency and action.
The Shepherds Respond with Worship
Here we are back with the shepherds on the dark hillsides outside Bethlehem. The glory of God has just cracked open the night sky with news that will change the world:
“When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.” – Luke 2:15-16
Focus on their response. There is immediacy and urgency in their words: “Let us go straight to…and see.” Words turned into action as they left in a hurry, eagerly seeking to find this child.
Tucked away in this familiar account of Christ’s birth is a practical example of worship. At its core, worship is an appropriate response to the worth of God—who He is, what He says, and what He does.
The shepherds’ response shows us that worship is both hearing and acting. Imagine how different their story would have been if they had hesitated or let fear hold them back. By choosing to respond immediately, they were able to witness the miracle firsthand.
Worship Tip: Hear and Respond
Worship is often simpler than we make it. God’s story would have continued with or without the shepherds, but their personal story was transformed because they chose to respond.
Like the shepherds, we are called to seek God with expectancy. When we hear God’s voice through His Word or feel His Spirit nudging us, it’s an invitation to take action.
Often, our worship becomes more meaningful when we actively participate in what God is doing—whether that’s spending time in prayer, helping someone in need, or praising Him through song. These moments of response allow us to experience His presence in a deeper way.
The angel’s directions guided the shepherds straight to Christ. Seeking leads to finding. Truly, we won’t find anything of value if we don’t actively look for it.
Seeking God
Because we are human, we will always be searching for something. This desire to find something of eternal value is woven into the fabric of our being. God put it there to draw us to Him.
“Seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul…” – Deuteronomy 4:29
In this verse, seeking is both an action and an attitude. It means to search out, especially in worship or prayer, with an expectant heart. God promises that those who seek Him will find Him.
This isn’t just a one-time encounter; it’s an ongoing relationship. As we continue to seek Him, our understanding of His love, grace, and faithfulness deepens, filling us with joy and peace that only He can provide.
The most important part of this verse is in God’s promise to be found. Seeking God is the pathway to the heart of intimacy with God.
He also invites us to participate in the process of our own spiritual growth. When we seek with a desire to know more of God, He promises to be found. This is not a one-time occurrence. We can seek and keep seeking, regularly desiring to know God more deeply.
How should we seek God in worship?
With ALL heart and ALL soul. It is too easy to half-heartedly go through the motions, rushing to wrap up one task and move on the next, isn’t it?
It is easy to be busy, but disengaged; active, but distracted–especially this time of year.
I don’t write this because I have got it down. I pen these words from my experience, often hampered by a heart easily distracted by all that glitters. Distraction is a way of life in western culture. The interesting thing is that the more we find Christ, the more we desire to seek Him for we are filled with treasure that is found in knowing God.
Today’s Worship Challenge:
Is there an area of your life God is beckoning you to follow Him? Don’t stand around on your hillside—get going! Worship God by seeking Him with urgency, expectancy, and action. Hear what He says and get straight to it.
A fun idea for kids:
When our children were young, we made this part of our Christmas tradition. Each year, I would wrap the Baby Jesus figure from our Nativity set as a gift and hide it somewhere in the house. On Christmas Eve, we would have a treasure hunt, searching for the first and most meaningful gift of Christmas—Christ. The kids loved reading the Christmas story, moving the Nativity figurines, and dressing up to reenact the scene. These moments of joy and discovery made Christ the centerpiece of our celebrations, creating memories that reflected the true meaning of the season.
How are you seeking Christ this Christmas? Leave a comment and share how you’re creating meaningful traditions or how God is drawing you closer to Him during this special time.
Don’t forget to join us tomorrow for the next step in the Christmas Worship Challenge! Let’s continue to prepare our hearts for Christ and celebrate His presence in our lives.
Your Worship Challenge Roadmap
- Worship Like a Wise Man
- The Glory of Christ
- Both Child and Mighty God
- Four Ways to Love God
- God With Us
- Two Ways to Exalt Christ This Christmas
- A God who Speaks
- Let Beauty Spark Your Worship Today
- Make it Beautiful
- Give God Glory: Put on You’re Dancing Shoes
- A Lesson From the Christmas Shepherds
- Make it Known: Another Lesson from the Shepherds
- Treasuring and Pondering: Meditation of the Heart
- Fullness of Grace: The Divine Multiplier
- How to Find Joy
- Worship by Giving the Gift of Prayer
- Believing God: The Rest of Peace
- Break Out of Your Worship Rut
- Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child
- The Worship of Gratitude
- Celebrate Christmas: Give God the Gift of Yourself
- Why You Should Sing in the New Year with a New Song
- We Don’t Worship Alone
- Practical Tips to Deepen Your Worship Now
- More Tips to Deepen Your Worship Now
- Worship You Don’t Want to Miss
So glad you're here. I help busy women—gals like you— build healthy habits for living well with biblical wisdom and practical steps to deepen your faith, increase your hope, and thrive in your purpose.
