20 Bible Verses About Worship and Praise
God’s Word has a great deal to say about worship and praise. Today, we’ll explore 20 powerful Bible verses about worship and praise. Then, we’ll have an honest conversation about learning to exchange worry for worship.
Also, be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you exchange worry for worship.
20 Bible Verses About Worship and Praise
Let’s start with soaking in these Bible verses about worship.
Bible Verses About Worship
1. Romans 12:1 (ESV)
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.
Worship is more than praising God through music. We are called to offer our entire lives as acts of worship.
How do we do this?
We live to love God and love others. We serve others above ourselves. As God aligns our hearts with his heart, we fulfill his purpose for us, leading us into lives of ongoing worship.
2. Psalm 150:6
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
All creation was designed to worship and praise God.
Spend some time in nature and let God’s created world lead you to worship him.
3. Hebrews 13:15
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
We are to live lives of ongoing worship.
We do this by cultivating gratitude while always looking toward the Lord.
4. John 4:24
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
God’s Spirit lives in his believers. We are called to worship him in both spirit and truth.
Bible Verses About Worship and Loving God
5. Psalm 95:6
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
Worship includes humbling ourselves before God, kneeling at his feet as we acknowledge that he holds all our days in his hands.
6. Psalm 71:8
My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.
May we learn to praise God all day long, every day. We cannot praise God and complain at the same time.
7. Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Does the Word of Christ dwell in you richly?
May the overflow of the Word lead to the edification of others and the joyful act of living worshipfully.
8. Job 1:20-21
Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Job worshiped God even when God had permitted great suffering in his life. We are called to follow this example.
9. Hebrews 12:28
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.
When we worship God, we stand in awe of his goodness and revere him. We acknowledge that he is the worthy leader of our lives.
10. Revelation 5:13
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
One day, we will all surround God’s throne in heaven give glory to the Lamb. May we remember this as we worship him on earth.
11. Psalm 103:1-2
Of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
God is pleased when we bless his holy name!
12. Psalm 149:3
Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
God is the author of joy.
Do you worship him joyfully?
13. Revelation 4:8-11
And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
This is a powerful depiction of the throne room in heaven. One day, we will all dwell with God in this throne room. With the elders, we proclaim God’s worthiness.
Bible Verses About Worship and Praise
14. Psalm 75:1
We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.
By recounting his goodness to us over time, we worship God.
15. 1 Chronicles 16:29
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
God is glorious. Our worship is a fragrant offering to him.
16. Isaiah 12:4
And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.
We worship God by speaking of his goodness to others.
17. Psalm 95:2
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
Gratitude is the best posture in which we enter into worship.
18. Psalm 99:5
Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!
God is holy. He is perfect. We exalt him in his holiness.
19. Psalm 57:5
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
One day, God will create a new earth. Until then, when we worship him on this earth, his glory reigns over a broken world.
20. Psalm 19:1-2
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
We can look to the sky for inspiration as we worship God. The heavens declare his glory, and we should follow this example!
Reflections on These Bible Verses About Worship
These Bible verses about worship call us to praise God constantly. Romans 12:2 goes so far as to call us to offer our very lives as acts of worship. In this way, worshiping God is much more than singing; we are to live lives of worship.
Sadly, the worries of this life have a way of pushing out worship. I invite you to join me during an ordinary moment in the kitchen, we’ll talk about exchanging worry for worship.
Exchanging Worry for Worship
The forest pushes heavenward, reaching toward the sky with a desperation that makes my heart ache. Life has been challenging here lately. As much as I want to choose worship over worry, my worries have been consuming me.
As I stand at the kitchen sink and stare at the forest outside, I consider the trees. At times, it seems as if all of creation cries out for redemption—deliverance.
I wash a menagerie of spoons, knives, and plastic children’s bowls as the morning light rises behind the tree line. That’s when I notice a single beam of heaven’s light reaching down to touch the treetops.
“Yes,” I whisper, “This.”
This will be my anthem: Not that I reached up to touch God in my desperation, but that he reached down for me.
The kitchen is silent, but my heart worships the one who is greater than all my worries.
Worship Over Worry
Later in the day, I sit to write as I listen to a worship playlist. The songs remind me that my God has not failed me. They offer truth to stand on. They help me lift my eyes off my worries and fix them on Christ.
Throughout the past decade, I’ve learned that I cannot worship and worry at the same time. It’s simply not possible to praise God while perseverating over my troubles.
Scripture illustrates this principle remarkably through the story of Jehoshaphat.
Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah during a time of unrest for God’s people. Jehoshaphat’s most noteworthy moment took place as enemy troops advanced against God’s people. Instead of rallying his men to draw their swords and fight, King Jehoshaphat commanded them to leave their swords sheathed and praise God in song.
As God’s army praised him, the enemy troops began slaying one another instead of attacking God’s people. King Jehoshaphat led God’s people to victory, and worship was their weapon (see 2 Chronicles 20).
In the same way, when we choose worship over worry, the enemy loses the battle for our attention. Worship aligns our hearts with Jesus, and we find our victory in him. He is the King, and he has already won the war.
Practical Ways to Choose Worship Over Worry
Throughout the past year, worship music has carried me through some worried times. After neglecting the practice of consistently engaging in worship within the walls of our home for a few years, I am beyond grateful for the friend who nudged me to enter into worship through music again.
Listening to worship music can change the spiritual atmosphere in any space almost immediately when we enter into worship.
Most of us immediately think of music when we think of worship. Yet any activity that leads us to stand in adoration of God can stir our hearts to worship.
In addition to connecting with God through worship music (at home, in the car, at work, and with others in public settings), I encourage you to choose worship over worry by worshiping in the following unconventional ways.
Pair a Repetitive Daily Task With Worship
Learning to pair a repetitive daily task with worship is a helpful way to choose worship over worry.
Every morning, I slip into my boots and head outside to tend to our beagles.
At times, cleaning and filling their water dishes and cleaning their pens feels monotonous. One winter morning about a year ago, I sensed God inviting me to stop, take a deep breath, and worship him while I worked.
I paused to look to the sky and thank him for the streaks of salmon above the eastern horizon and the snow blanketing the fields to the west.
I slowed down to pet each beagle and look into their dark eyes. In the process, something shifted within me. I felt deeply connected with God, grateful.
Now, I look forward to my mornings outside with the dogs. It has become a time to shed the worries of the day and thank God for his goodness.
I always return to the house feeling replenished—even amid blizzards and summer rain showers.
Worship While You Prepare a Meal
Worshiping during the process of cooking changes the way I undertake this activity. Here’s what this looks like for me: First, I thank God for providing the ingredients for the meal I’m preparing. I take my time by setting the ingredients on the counter, thanking God for his goodness and care.
I then prepare the food slowly, paying attention to the aroma and the texture of the food as it cooks. I’m mindful of the origins of the food I’m preparing—thinking of the farmer who harvested the wheat for my flour or the sugarcane for the cookies.
I talk with God, allowing the act to be mindful and deliberate. I think of those who don’t have the luxury of a warm meal or the provision to purchase so many ingredients. In the process, my heart overflows with gratitude. Instead of hurrying through meal prep, I feel grateful and deeply connected to God.
Turn Eating Into an Act of Worship
Before we discuss worshipful eating, I begin with a question I’ve asked myself dozens of times: How would your eating patterns be different if eating were always a worshipful act for you?
When I worshipfully pay attention to the presence of Jesus with me while I eat, I eat differently. There is no room for compulsive eating, comfort eating, or escapist eating.
Before he went to the cross, Jesus instituted the Lord’s supper. Perhaps he chose this very ordinary, essential human activity to be our ongoing reminder of his sacrifice because he wanted us to remember him often. He wanted us to think of him many times throughout our days and weeks. What if we tuned into his presence every time we sat to eat? I believe we would be changed radically.
Worship God While You Care for Your Home
All too often, I find myself grumbling while I clean.
Imagine a life in which worship and cleaning automatically coincide. Imagine that every time you stand at the sink washing dishes, mop the kitchen floor, wipe down the tables, dust the mantles, or vacuum the family room you embrace a short prayer retreat with the Lord.
Feeling weary? Slip into the laundry room to fold T-shirts and encounter the heartbeat of God.
Feeling burned out? Get lost in the act of dishwashing and let God whisper to your heart over the soap suds.
Final Thoughts on Choosing Worship Over Worry
When we worship God, we adore him and praise him for his goodness. This can happen anytime, anywhere. I encourage you to push back against the enemy’s attacks of worry and discouragement by cultivating a worshipful heart.
Reflect:
What is your greatest worry right now? Take a moment to talk to God about this worry. Once you’ve told him everything you’re feeling, find a worship song on your phone or favorite device and spend a few minutes worshiping God in song. Imagine him sitting on his heavenly throne, sovereign over your worries and cares. Take your eyes off your worry and focus on Jesus. Notice the shift in your soul afterward.
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love.
Calling All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
A Free Devotional to Help You Connect With God
If these Bible verses about worship blessed you, I have a gift for you today. God is a good Father, and he wants us to experience his healing, deliverance, and replenishment. Most of us have learned that we cannot heal, deliver, or refresh ourselves; we need God to do this work within us. I invite you to create space for God to transform your life by downloading a free copy of my devotional eBook, The Lean Into Grace Devotional: An 8-Day Devotional for Healing, Deliverance, and Replenishment. Find it for free here. 
