have used many different paths for 2,000 years to enjoy intimacy
with God: being outdoors, studying, singing, reading, dancing,
creating art, serving others, having solitude, enjoying fellowship,
and participating in dozens of other activities.
In his book Sacred Pathways, Gary identifies nine of the ways
people draw near to God: Naturalistsare most inspired to love
God out-of-doors, in natural settings. Sensates love
God with their senses and appreciate beautiful
worship services that involve their sight, taste,
smell, and touch, not just their ears.
Traditionalistsdraw closer to God through rituals,
liturgies, symbols, and unchanging structures.
Asceticsprefer to love God in solitude and
simplicity. Activistslove God through confronting evil, battling
injustice, and working to make the world a better place.
Caregiverslove God by loving others and meeting their needs.
Enthusiastslove God through celebration. Contemplativeslove
God through adoration. Intellectuals love God by studying with
their minds.^5
There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to worship and
friendship with God. One thing is certain: You don’t bring glory
to God by trying to be someone he never intended you to be.
God wants you to be yourself. “That’s the kind of people the Father
is out looking for: those who are simply and honestlythemselves
before him in their worship.”^6
God is pleased when our worship is thoughtful. Jesus’
command to “love God with all your mind”is repeated four times
in the New Testament. God is not pleased with thoughtless
singing of hymns, perfunctory praying of clichés, or careless
exclamations of “Praise the Lord,” because we can’t think of
anything else to say at that moment. If worship is mindless, it is
meaningless. You must engage your mind.
Jesus called thoughtless worship “vain repetitions.”^7 Even
biblical terms can become tired clichés from overuse, and we stop
PURPOSE #1: You Were Planned for God’s Pleasure 103