Recently, I was reading in the Psalms, and I spontaneously began to tell the Lord, “I love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.” I kept going, entering into to worship and pouring out my heart before God. I poured out my emotions and tears, my love and adoration, all of myself, to Him. This is acceptable worship, the kind that King David gave to God- even when he was on the run from his enemies. Many times, like David, our worship, prayers, life, and pain are all intermingled before the Lord. We can just pour it all out before God. Like we see in many of the Psalms, our worship can be raw and real. Worship is a sacrifice, an offering to God.

I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord. Psalm 116:17 (KJV)

“The sacrifice of thanksgiving” brings to mind images of Old Testament animal sacrifices. It was messy- very messy. A slain animal is repulsive to most people. The same is true of our real worship. It can be messy, and often the offering of the deepest pain and hidden recesses of our hearts to God might appear repulsive and unattractive to other people. However, it is acceptable and well-pleasing to God.

So, go ahead and pour out your whole being to God. Open the floodgates and hold nothing back. Give God the deepest, most heart-felt worship you can. God will receive your honest and open display of love, and soon you will sense Him pouring His love and presence out on you in return. Surely, He is worthy of our worship; our deep, intimate, heartfelt worship. Pour yourself out before Him as an offering. It will bless God. After all, Jesus Himself poured it all out for us when He shed His blood and offered up His life.