Can We Still Worship God if We Aren't Musical? (John 4:23) - Your Daily Bible Verse - February 24

Can We Still Worship God if We Aren’t Musical?
By Jennifer Waddle

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. - John 4:23

A few years ago, my youngest son said one of the most impacting things I’ve ever heard.

We were talking about being musical, and he insisted he didn’t want to sing or play an instrument–-or take music lessons of any kind!

Reluctantly, I realized his interests and talents were different than mine, and in the end, I accepted his decision. But then, in the same conversation, he added something so profound, I still think about it all these years later.

He said, “Mom, I don’t like to sing or play an instrument, but I love worship.”

His statement took me by surprise and really challenged me. Can we really love worship without singing or playing an instrument? Perhaps, Jesus answered this question best the day He sat down by a well and began a conversation with a Samaritan woman.

The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:19-24 NKJV)

With or without music, it is God’s desire that we worship in spirit and in truth. Although singing songs of praise, to the King of Kings, is a beautiful act of worship, so is giving a cup of cold water to someone who is thirsty or choosing to forgive someone in Jesus’ name.

Worship is more than music.

Romans 12:1 reminds us, “I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Our entire beings, from head to toe, are presented to God holy and acceptable through the blood of Jesus Christ. And because we are holy and acceptable through Him, we present ourselves back to Him as living sacrifices. Our spiritual acts of worship, which include prayer, Bible reading, and communion with the Lord, may or may not include singing or instruments.

I learned a valuable lesson that day, from a little boy who didn’t want to take music lessons of any kind, but who loved worship just the same! And, more importantly, I’ve learned beautiful lessons from Jesus, the Messiah, who revealed Himself to me, just as He revealed who He was to the woman at the well.

For the woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

Reflect on today’s verse with us. Share your thoughts in the Your Daily Bible Verse discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

*This devotion was taken in part from Jennifer Waddle’s blog, What is Worship when You Don’t Sing or Play an Instrument? You can read the original post here.

Related Resource: Praying Through Psalms 60: Victory in Hopeless Ground

What do you do when the battlefield stretches in every direction, and it looks like God Himself brought the defeat?

Join Jaime on the Praying Christian Women Podcast for a devotional on Psalm 60 — a raw, honest lament born out of being surrounded on all sides, where David dares to say You did this, God — and still picks up the banner and calls Him Lord.

Jaime unpacks the historical backdrop of David fighting enemies to the north, east, and south all at once, and shares a breathtaking story from her years near Death Valley — where barren, salt-crusted flats that look permanently dead suddenly erupted into a once-in-a-century bloom of purple wildflowers. Sometimes the victory is already buried right beneath the most hopeless-looking ground, waiting for God's rain to bring it to life. If this episode helps you navigate life with prayer and intention, be sure to follow Praying Christian Women on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!