Worship in the Ordinary - Ian Thornton

Week 1 Devotional
Jesus is the greatest game changer in the universe. Obviously. Through Him everything was made, then through His life, death, and resurrection we were redeemed, and in the end everything will be remade, all through this one man, Jesus. Yet His human life on earth is somewhat mysterious. If Jesus truly lived the “perfect life,” which we believe He did, then we have to take note that nearly 90 percent of that life was spent in what we would call “normal life.” Now, Jesus is anything but normal, yet He seems to have purposefully spent the majority of His literal days on earth living like we do. Going to and from work. Working with His hands. Cooking. Cleaning. Loving His community. Living what Paul would go on to call “a quiet life.”

This was no accident. This was a statement.

God incarnate spent most of His time honoring and redeeming, even validating, normal human life, forever changing it to be simultaneously normal and holy. This should strike us as funny, because these two words are almost exact opposites. Holy pretty much means not normal. Set apart. Different. Yet in Jesus these worlds collide.

This is part of God’s work in the Incarnation. To make all things, especially the normal things, holy. Set apart for their original intent. To house the very presence of God and host the union of God and humanity. Heaven and earth. Creator and creation.

This is God’s goal for all creation. Not just the places and activities we would deem holy, but that every time, every place, and every activity would become a holy place, a holy time, and a holy activity. That our everyday lives would house the presence of the living God and facilitate the mutual love of God and His people being expressed. Every car ride. Every conversation. Every meal. A temple. A garden. A holy place where God and His people can be together, loving one another. Enjoying one another. Forever.

That’s heaven. That’s the ever expanding Kingdom of God. God’s plan is not to have us all escape earth. It is to have heaven swallow earth, transforming every part of it into a temple garden for worship, where we will be one and reign forever. A Kingdom of royal priests.

However, it all starts where Jesus started. In our homes. In our seemingly ordinary lives being transformed into extraordinary, even holy, places for God to dwell and be worshiped. This is our aim for Infinite Worship and our time of fasting this January. To be honest, I believe this is our aim as Christians. To rediscover more of the infinite ways to worship an infinite God in our ordinary lives.

I believe God has a lot to teach us, but it will require us coming to Him with the heart of a child, willing to relearn our own perception of life in order to grow in this mysterious life of the Spirit. So let’s begin our month together in prayer, asking God to move powerfully in our midst.

Lord, Have Your way in us.
Teach us Your otherworldly ways.
Open our eyes to see You hiding in plain sight, and do a deep work in us. We trust You. We love You. We need You, and we want You.

Lead us by Your Spirit, in Jesus’ name.
Amen

CLEANING as worship
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
“God regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.” - Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God

This is another form of working as worship for us to explore. Today, find something in your house to clean. This may be dishes, vacuuming, dusting, whatever is needed. If you’re really holy, you can scrub the bathroom floors or a toilet in the name of Jesus. Brother Laurence is famous for practicing the presence of God as he washed dishes in his monastery. Make your home the monastery. 

Very simply, engage in the normal daily task of cleaning and turn this simple moment into a time of worship.

ENTERTAINMENT as worship
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Yes, whatever you do. Good news. You officially have permission to break your media fast tonight, and purposefully so. This one flies in the face of dualism, which would say God does not belong in your entertainment. And in one sense that is true. God is not here to entertain you. However, God can be discovered, encountered, and worshiped in just about any situation, and entertainment is no exception. Bingeing Netflix on your own for days on end may not qualify, but today we will be purposefully aiming our sights at something that can so easily feel unspiritual, with the desire to reclaim ground for the kingdom.

This activation really resonates with what Papa Ken Helser says, “You can find God in everything and miss Him in anything.”

Tonight, take a show or movie and run your entertainment through consecration, intention, and action, and add reflection at the end. Ask God to speak to you through this media. You may be surprised by what He will say.

Devote your time to God as worship. Turn your heart toward Him and watch with an engaged Spirit. When you are done, ask God if there were any hidden messages for you in the film. If you want a few softball options, you can never go wrong with something like The Chosen or even The Lion King (a powerful revelation of sonship). Just enjoy the presence of God as you enjoy some of His creation’s creativity.

EATING as worship
Thursday, January 8, 2026
1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Some of the most holy moments I have ever been a part of have happened around a table. Tables are all over the Bible as holy places, from the table in Psalm 23, to the Lord’s Table of communion, to the final table set at the wedding feast of the Lamb.

Do not get takeout tonight. Get together with as many friends and or family as you can and eat in the name of Jesus. This is one of the hallmarks of the early church in Acts, meeting together daily and breaking bread from house to house.

Maybe start the evening with prayer. Declare the night and the meal as holy unto God. Turn your hearts toward Him. Bless Him, thank Him, and invite Him in, because Jesus said, “Where two or more are gathered, there I am in your midst.” You might even take communion together. This can become an epicenter of worship that rivals the roar of a stadium.

COMMUTING as worship
Friday, January 9, 2026
Luke 24:15 “While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.”

This is another seemingly random place where I have consistently encountered God over the years. I have received life altering words, revelations, and impartation while alone in a car. The Bible often shows God encountering people on the road to somewhere. The road to Emmaus. The road to Damascus. Why not the road to pick up the kids, or the drive home from work?

Today, take that time and run it through the consecration, intention, and action process. You could open with a prayer devoting your transit time to God, turn your heart toward Him, and then drive in the name of Jesus. Some may speak in tongues at the top of their lungs. Others may sit in utter silence. Both can be holy.

EXERCISE as worship
Saturday, January 10, 2026
1 Corinthians 6:20 “You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

This might be pushing some of you, so do not hurt yourself, but today we are going to engage exercise as worship. You read that right. Exercising, not exorcising. That is for another day.

Today, set apart some time to literally move with God. For some this might look like a prayer walk, a bike ride, or even dancing in your living room. Others might run a half marathon. You know who you are. Remember, there is no competition here, just move with God. Engage the consecration, intention, and action model, and enjoy time with Him.

FAMILY as worship
Sunday, January 11, 2026
John 13:34–35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Let’s be clear right off the bat. Do not worship your family today. With that being said, love your family as an expression of worship to God. Loving your family is not separate from worship. It is honoring to God. All it needs is some consecration, intention, and action.

For some of you, like me, this will look like changing diapers and kissing your child in the name of Jesus. Dualism wants to convince you, the stay at home mother, that this season where you have less time for what we would call holy activities makes you less spiritual. That is not true. You are doing God’s work. Just turn your heart toward Him and do that work with and for Him.

For others, this may look like calling that family member you have not talked to in too long and expressing your love for them, encouraging them, or even praying over them.

Some of you may legitimately have no family to call your own. Remember that God takes the orphans and places them in families. Reach out to someone in our community and love them on God’s behalf, and this fulfills the twofold meaning of doing things in the name of Jesus, both as worship unto Him and as a representative of Him.

There is a reason the second commandment is just like the first. Loving others can be an expression of love to God. After the verse above, Jesus would go on to say, “If you love Me, you will obey My commandments,” which He defines as loving one another. True love for God always overflows into love for His people and love for our neighbors.

Today I bless your loving to be like God’s. Overflowing. 

In Jesus’ name.
Amen

Worship in Spiritual Disciplines - Matt Ruckel
Week 2 Devotional

This week, we are exploring how spiritual disciplines become worship. Not as religious obligations, but as invitations into relationship.

Spiritual disciplines are not about earning God’s approval or proving our maturity. They are practices that place us before God so He can shape us. When practiced with intention and love, they create space for God’s presence to form us from the inside out.

During this fast, we are intentionally slowing down, creating margin, and paying attention. These disciplines help us turn ordinary moments into holy ones. They teach us how to seek God not only in gathered worship, but in the rhythms of everyday life.

Our aim this week is not perfection, but participation. We are not trying to master these practices in seven days. We are simply learning how to show up, practice them honestly, and let God do what only He can do. As we practice, we will discover that worship is not just something we do, but someone we become.

PRAYER as worship
Monday, January 12, 2026

Psalm 27:8 “My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

Hello friends. Welcome to day eight of our fast. I am praying that God is doing a deep and meaningful work in your heart as you seek Him. May the things you are leaving behind lose their grip, and may God’s purposes come into clearer focus as you press forward. We are cheering you on.

Prayer as worship begins with attention. Prayer is not a performance or a task to complete. It is relational. It is choosing to be with God.

Dallas Willard said it simply: prayer is talking with God about what we are doing together.

Today’s practice:

Set aside one short moment today. Consecrate it to God. Turn your heart toward Him. Speak honestly, then sit quietly and listen. Do not rush. Let prayer become presence.

SCRIPTURE READING as worship
Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Scripture reading becomes worship when we slow down enough to listen. The Bible is not just a book to study, but a place where God meets us and shapes us.

Eugene Peterson once said the Bible is not primarily about telling us what to do, but about revealing who God is. As we see Him more clearly, worship naturally follows.

Today’s practice:

Choose a short passage of Scripture. Read it slowly. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak. Do not rush to apply it. Let the Word order your heart before it directs your actions.

GENEROSITY as worship
Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Generosity is worship because it reveals what we trust. Giving reorders our loves and loosens the grip of fear and control.

Augustine said that giving is a way of ordering our loves. What we give to reveals what matters most to us.

One of the best ways to foster a heart of worship is to consistently practice generosity. This powerful act suffocates the love of money and gives God room to breathe life through your resources.

Today’s practice:

Today, ask God who you can bless. Take five or ten dollars and ask Him who to give it to, or look for a simple, tangible way to bless someone. It does not have to be dramatic. Even small acts of generosity can carry eternal weight when offered as worship. Watch what happens. I believe something beautiful will break out in an otherwise ordinary moment.

SILENCE AND SOLITUDE as worship
Thursday, January 15, 2026

Psalm 46:10 “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’”

Silence can feel uncomfortable because it removes distraction. But that is exactly why it matters.

Silence and solitude are spaces where we stop performing and start listening. When the noise fades, we become aware of what has been shaping us beneath the surface. Silence helps us listen to our hearts.

It is easy to fill our lives with busyness and hurry as a way to avoid dealing with what our hearts are actually feeling. I will be honest. There was a season when silence was deeply uncomfortable for me and even felt scary at times, especially the thought of being alone with my own thoughts. But as I began to practice this discipline, God met me there. I learned to unpack my heart and discovered a deeper peace and rest. I was able to simply be with God in perfect peace.

John Mark Comer says it simply:
“Silence is where we stop running from ourselves and start meeting God.”

Silence is worship because it says God is enough. No words. No striving. Just presence.

Today’s practice:

Find five to ten quiet minutes. Turn off noise and screens. Sit with God. Do not try to fix anything. Let Him meet you in stillness.

WITNESS as worship
Friday, January 16, 2026

Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Witness is not about pressure. It is about overflow.

Corey Russell says something I love:
“Witness is not about trying harder. It is about being so close to Jesus that His life spills out of you.”

Today, look for one opportunity to reflect Jesus. Encourage someone. Pray for someone. Share honestly. Let your life point people toward Him.

Pray this prayer:
“God, here I am, ready and available. Use me to share Your love with someone today. Lead me. Guide me. Give me boldness.”

Ask God to show you one person to love today. It does not have to be complicated. Obedience often feels small, but it carries eternal impact.

Today’s practice:

Ask God to show you one person to love well today. Encourage them. Pray for them. Share honestly if the moment opens. Trust God with the outcome.

SABBATH as worship
Saturday, January 17, 2026

Exodus 20:8–10 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.”

Sabbath is one of the most countercultural acts of worship we can practice.

Celebration of Discipline teaches that Sabbath is not laziness. It is trust. Rest declares that God is in control, not us.

May I recommend a book to you? The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer has been a lifeline for me. It was life-changing for me, and I believe it could be for you as well.

Sabbath begins with a word we all need more than we realize: remember. God introduced the Sabbath to Israel as they were learning how to live free after slavery. Before they built anything or figured out success, God gave them a rhythm. Remember that your value is not found in what you produce.

Sabbath gently interrupts our pace and calls us back to presence, gratitude, and joy. Sabbath is not just about rest. It is about reorientation. It is a day where our whole lives turn toward God again.

Today’s practice:

As the sun sets and the fast breaks, intentionally slow down. Set aside work and hurry. Enjoy God’s gifts with gratitude. Let rest become worship.

COMMUNITY as worship
Sunday, January 18, 2026

Acts 2:46-47 “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Spiritual formation never happens alone. It always happens in community.

Celebration of Discipline emphasizes that worship, confession, guidance, and celebration are communal practices. We are formed together. We worship together. We grow together.

Michael Miller from Upperroom says it beautifully:
“Community is where love becomes visible.”

Serving an invisible God becomes much easier when the body of Christ becomes the hands and feet of Jesus. We lift one another up in times of need. When love becomes visible, worship moves beyond words and into action.

Can I share honestly for a moment. Kristi and I walked through a season where we felt left out and overlooked. Over time, we realized there were meaningful relationships already around us, waiting to grow once we took the first step to invite and host. When we stopped comparing ourselves to other groups and instead made space for our own community, something shifted. We began to thrive.

Loving one another through community is worship because it reflects the heart of God. When we forgive, serve, show up, and remain committed, we honor Him.

Today’s practice:

Engage community intentionally. Stay after church. Join a group. Invite someone over. Be present and available. Let worship take shape through love.

coming soon …