David's prayer.

Alot of times I find myself struggling with corporate worship. When the music is playing and the congregation is praising God I find my mind wondering and my heart not quite with it. Its not that I want to be this, its just that I have the hardest time feeling involved in it. This is something I have been trying to fix.

When we think of worship I'm sure the first thing that comes to many of your minds is the congregation at church lifting up a hymn or shouting praises to God. That's because I think we focus a little too much on corporate worship and neglect the just as important private worship. How often have we praised God for the little things in life? The frosty trees, the smooth lake, the orange leaves. We see these things and marvel at them, but we don't remember to praise our Creator for them.

How about the slightly larger things? The passing of a test, the quick recovery from a cold, the time enjoyed with our family.

God has done amazing things in our lives and we too often forget to worship Him for it. I encourage all of us to praise Him privately every time we receive a blessing. King David was once told by God that His seed would prosper forever. David's little known prayer that follows is one of the most touching things examples of private worship in the Bible:

2 Samuel 7:18-29

"Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD ?

20 "What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign LORD. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.

22 "How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 23 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? [c] 24 You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, O LORD, have become their God.

25 "And now, LORD God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name will be great forever. Then men will say, 'The LORD Almighty is God over Israel!' And the house of your servant David will be established before you.

27 "O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, 'I will build a house for you.' So your servant has found courage to offer you this prayer. 28 O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever."

So to close, all forms of worship are important. Just remember to praise Him!