At weekly youth group gatherings, many lift their hands to God and praise Him for His blessings. True worship that requires the body, soul and spirit in submission to God can take many forms, from exuberant dancing to shouting praise to lifting hands to silent praying. But distractions abound in a youth setting, as well as everywhere else. From scrutinizing an acquaintance’s outfit to worry about how they appear to others, youth can easily lose focus.

Ask your youth to think about what holds them back during times of worship. The story of King David in 1 Chronicles 15–1 Chronicles 16 communicates an essential truth for all worshippers: God alone is the focus of worship. In 1 Chronicles 15:29, David celebrates Israel’s recovery of the ark of the covenant by dancing and praising God unabashedly in the streets. His wife, Michal, is dismayed by what she views as his lack of dignity and worries that his behavior will cause him to lose respect in the eyes of others. Since her focus was on people instead of God, she lost an opportunity to praise God for his blessings.

Michal’s worries are common for everyone today. We get distracted by social factors, personal troubles, or spontaneous thoughts. Encourage youth to set aside these external surroundings by taking a closer look at the ways God is working in their lives and the lives of others. The goal of a youth gathering is to provide a secure and loving environment where teens feel free to express their hearts.

In her book Prayer Listening, Jan Johnson says, “Worship is something I enter into fully, whether quietly or noisily. It invited the full participation of my soul—mind, feelings, body, will.” Remind your youth to take time out of their day to minimize distractions and fully worship the Lord in whatever ways He leads.

“God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24