What Adam and Eve lost that day, we may regain and experience through worship. Worship is first and foremost connecting with God. It is the primary way God has given us by which we may be restored to again walk with Him.
The activity of worship takes many forms, including praying, singing hymns and praise songs, reading the Bible, listening fervently as the Word of God is preached, meditating on a Psalm and remembering Christ’s sacrifice while taking the Lord’s Supper.
It is important to note that one may go through the motion of doing all of the above without actually worshiping God, for worship is a matter of the heart, one’s innermost spirit connecting with God’s spirit (Romans 8:16). If there is activity but no connection (our mind and heart being elsewhere), we may suspect that no real worship is going on. Jesus told us that “those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).
So, yes, we worship with our heart and mind in spirit and truth. All reading, singing and meditating should be based on God’s Word, the truth (John 17:17).
Words matter! What better way to express ourselves to God than to use the words He has given us in the Bible? As we read and sing words based on Scripture, the Holy Spirit directs our thoughts and convicts our hearts, drawing us closer to God.
The command in Deuteronomy 6:4 to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” is also a directive for worship. We are to love and worship God with our whole being – body, mind and spirit. Every part of us needs to be engaged. We may pray, of course, in any position, but kneeling, standing, raising arms, closing eyes and folding hands are all appropriate ways of showing respect for God and using our body to help focus attention on Him.