Worthy Worship: What's in your heart?

Yesterday, we gathered as a church family around the communion table. Communion is a time that calls us to remember Christ’s sacrifice and examine the condition of our hearts. It’s always a beautiful moment. But it’s also a weighty one.

As I watched hands lift bread and cup, I wondered: How many of us came with cluttered hearts? Hearts burdened with anger, distraction, or even unforgiveness? How often do we come to worship with spiritual baggage we’ve learned to ignore rather than unpack?

Psalm 28 gives voice to David’s cry:

"To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock: Do not be silent to me... Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary" (Psalm 28:1-2).

There’s something powerful about this image. David lifting his hands, not out of ritual, but out of desperation and surrender. His outward posture mirrors his inward humility. He isn't just going through the motions. He’s aware of his need for God.

That same posture is echoed in Paul’s instruction to Timothy:

"I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" (1 Timothy 2:8).

Paul isn’t prescribing a physical gesture as much as he is describing the spiritual condition that should accompany our worship: unburdened hearts. Hands lifted in worship are only “holy” when the heart behind them has been laid bare before God.

When we participated in communion yesterday, we reflected on Paul’s sober counsel in 1 Corinthians 11—not to partake “in an unworthy manner.” This doesn’t mean we must be perfect. It means we must be honest. Self-aware. Willing to examine and confess before we partake.

So here’s the question we each must ask: Am I worshipping with a heart that is surrendered or a heart that is hardened?

Too often, we worship while still holding onto offense. We lift our hands while avoiding reconciliation. We sing while refusing to release pride, fear, and bitterness. And then we wonder why worship feels hollow.

Worship is a beautiful, holy exchange. In this special moment, we bring God our whole selves—broken, grateful, and repentant—and in return, He makes us whole. He gives us rest. He restores our souls. It's important to remember that we can't truly receive these blessings with clenched fists or closed hearts.

As we reflect on yesterday’s communion service, may we continue examining ourselves today. What do you need to lay down at Jesus’ feet? Is there spiritual baggage you’ve carried into worship that needs to be released?

The posture of our bodies in worship matters less than the posture of our hearts.

Let’s come before Him with open hands and honest hearts.

Let’s worship in spirit and in truth.

Let’s lift up “holy hands," not because we’re worthy, but because He is.