Please don't refresh this page.
We are submitting all your information.

This takes few seconds.
It will redirect after submission.
Devotional
CONNECTION HOME
< Prev Next >
February 13, 2026

Show Me Your Glory

February 13, 2026 by RACHEL MCDONALD YANAC WORSHIPING GOD Culture adjustment Culture shock Quiet time with the Lord Worshiping God
Show Me Your Glory
  • by RACHEL MCDONALD YANAC
  • Comment
“Then Moses said, ‘Now show me your glory.’”
Exodus 33:18

Culture shock. We talk about it, study it, and plan for it, yet it seems to take us by surprise when it actually happens. One difficult thing for me was getting used to how the people we serve worship the Lord during their church services. Many of the practices just seemed so... hmm. I couldn't really put a “label” on them. After all, there was nothing un-Biblical about holding extremely long services, or dancing during worship, or crying, or speaking in tongues. All of those things happened in Bible times, so why not now? I realized that my “problem” with these differences stemmed from the fact that I was not accustomed to them. 


A look into New Testament life shows that this struggle with differences in worship isn’t just a modern-day conflict. When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well, she was convinced that worship had to be done in a specific place, depending on one’s ethnic heritage. And throughout His entire ministry, Jesus constantly pushed back against the mindset of the religious leaders that worship had to be done in a certain way. If people didn’t follow the rules, then they weren’t worshiping “correctly”.  


So how can we learn to worship God despite cultural differences that make us feel uncomfortable? I love Moses’ straightforward request when he faced yet another challenge in his ministry. After honestly expressing his bewilderment with God’s plan, he appealed to the LORD; “Now show me your glory.” 


I haven’t employed Moses’ strategy perfectly in my cross-cultural worship experience, but I’ve been making a concentrated effort to do so recently. Rather than criticize a theologically shallow message or cringe as we sing the same out-of-tune chorus for the eighth time, I whisper to the Lord, “Show me your glory.” 


While I have yet to see an immediate change in my physical environment - babies continue to cry, the singing is still out-of-tune, and the electric guitar is way too loud - I can feel the change in my heart. Jesus graciously brings me one step closer to the time “when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). 

Closing Prayer
Lord, I’ve spent so much time in the past trying to block out the distractions that take my mind from you when we’re supposed to be worshiping. Please help me to follow Moses’ example and simply ask you to “Show me YOUR glory.” Thank you for allowing your glory to shine through the many different worship styles that are practiced by your children all around the globe. Let us see this as a small reflection of the amazing worship experience that we will one day share when we join together in heaven, each of us singing and praising you in our own language! Amen.
Resources
Song: Show Me Your Glory by Third Day I love this classic Third Day song that puts music to Moses’ Old Testament plea.
Song: The Heart of Worship by NB Worship I listen to this beautiful soundtrack when I need to re-adjust my own perception of worship.
Question for Reflection

What have been some of your cross-cultural worship “hang-ups” and how have you learned to deal with them?

Comments
Rachel McDonald Yanac
February 13, 2026

Besides what I mentioned in the devotional, I also struggle with the heavy emphasis on going to church every time there’s an opportunity… and believe me, there are lots! I’ve “made peace” with this idea by realizing that the culture here is very community-oriented. Rather than coming from a background where each Christian learns to build up his or her faith through personal devotions, people in this culture experience learning in community. That’s not how I was taught, but I’ve realized that it’s OK for them to thrive in situations where there are multiple opportunities to spend time with other Christians during the week. I’ve also learned that it’s OK for me to not feel obligated to be there every time.