Contemporary worship is vibrant, expressive, and emotionally rich – which is a wonderful gift. But in the midst of casual culture, many churches and believers are now rediscovering a vital missing ingredient: reverence. True worship involves joy, yes – but also awe, wonder, and holy fear.

Hebrews 12:28–29 says, “Let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’” Reverence reminds us that we are not addressing a friend, peer, or entertainer – but the King of Kings.

In Scripture, every person who encountered God fell to their knees – or their face. From Isaiah to John, reverence was the natural response to divine glory. That same God hasn’t changed. His holiness is no less today than in ancient times.

Unfortunately, much of modern worship has drifted toward performance or entertainment. Lights, screens, and sound can serve worship, but they should never become the focus. True worship is not about atmosphere but attitude – a heart bowed before a holy God.

Reverence doesn’t mean stiffness or formality. It means recognising God’s majesty and responding with humility, surrender, and honour. It means preparing our hearts, not just our playlists, before entering a worship gathering.

Reverence also impacts our daily lives. Romans 12:1 calls us to offer our bodies “as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.” Worship isn’t just what we sing on Sunday – it’s how we live every day.

Let us teach the next generation that worship is sacred. Let’s model a posture of honour – not just in our songs, but in our speech, our dress, our focus, and our priorities.

When reverence returns to worship, so does the presence of God. He draws near to the humble. He delights in hearts that honour Him.

Let’s not reduce God to someone we casually visit. He is worthy of our highest praise and deepest respect. May we come before Him with singing – and with trembling.