Worshiping God is the best way to show reverence to Him.  In fact, by definition, to worship God means to give Him reverence.  The Greek word for worship is proskyneō.  This is what Strong says it means.

Strong’s Greek Dictionary
To prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore)

It is possible, however, to accomplish the very opposite of this if we are not careful when we worship God.  This is especially true when we gather as local churches to worship God.  How do you behave in the assemblies of the saints?  We only give God reverence in worship when we worship Him correctly.

John 4:23–24 (ESV)
²³ But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. ²⁴ God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Notice the word “must.”  Jesus is not giving us an optional way to worship God, He is telling us the only way to worship Him successfully.

To worship God in spirit is to do so with the proper attitude.  Our minds must be engaged in every act of worship we perform when we assemble to worship Him.  God does not want our worship to be robotic.  He does not want us just going through the motions outwardly while our minds are on something else.  Paul teaches us essentially the same thing in Romans 12.

Romans 12:1 (NKJV)
¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Vine tells us that the word “reasonable” is a translation of the Greek word logikos and means, “Pertaining to the reasoning faculty, reasonable, rational…The sacrifice is to be intelligent, in contrast to those offered by ritual and compulsion” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words).

Let us all make sure that every time we sing, pray, study, give, or observe the Lord’s Supper, we do so with our minds focused on giving God honor, glory, and praise.  That is the only way we can avoid our worship being done in vain.

Speaking of worship being in vain, if we fail to worship God in truth, that is, according to His word, it will not matter where our heart is, the worship will still be unacceptable to God.

Matthew 15:7–9 (NKJV)
⁷ Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ⁸ ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. ⁹ And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

When false doctrine is taught and then practiced in worship it only glorifies man and not God.  This is why it is so important to worship in truth, that is, according to the word of God.  It does not matter how popular a practice may be or how long it has been in place, if it is not authorized by God, it is “strange fire” (Leviticus  10:1-2) and unacceptable to God.

Our worship only shows reverence to God if it is done with the right attitude and according to His word.  There are no exceptions to this.  It does not matter how sincere a person is or how much zeal he worships with, if it is not done in spirit and truth, it is empty in the eyes of God.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.