"Shavkat, do you believe in God?"
"No, I believe in myself. God needs you to believe in yourself; then He will also be able to believe in you."
This is a quote from a longer conversation with Shavkat Mukhammedov - a very mysterious figure who taught martial arts in Ukraine in 1990-s. There was no particular school, no belonging to any known (reachable) organization, and no one knew exactly where this person had come from or where he went afterwards, but his appearance and brief episodes of teachings and conversations with a number of people over several years left a significant trace in the world of martial arts, mysticism, and sports.
Notice, in the conversation above Shavkat doesn't say that God (Source, Absolute, Power, or whoever you call what is meant here) doesn't exist. It's not about atheism, lack of respect for faith, or disbelief. On the contrary, the existence of the Source is given, it's something obvious. And exactly because of that, it doesn't need to be believed in. Why do you need to "believe" in something if you already know for sure that it's there? And why would Absolute need or demand anyone to believe in it if its existence is already a fact?
Lots of people believe in Higher Power, but not too many of them truly believe in themselves - in their good nature, in their potential, in their humanity and their abilities, in their strength and kindness. If that Higher Power truly does exist... think about it... wouldn't it want its creations to be kind, and strong, and confident, and generous?
"Believing" in these things will help develop them. Believing that every step we make brings us closer to personal freedom, true human nature, inner strength, and unconditional love is essential. "Believing" in some higher entity out there who will "make everything all right" may require some determination, but it also brings so much comfort... Because believing in something powerful and caring makes us feel like children... who can continue being children. Believing in yourself is harder; it can feel very LONELY and it requires lots of hard work.
Now, I won't even venture into guessing what that Absolute wants... or whether it even possesses the same ability to "want" stuff like we, people, do. I am simply taking this quote as something to think about.
Is it possible that God (or whoever/whatever you personally believe in) wants us to believe in ourselves and develop ourselves... instead of (or along with) putting most of the effort into worship? Or could it be that the best "worship" one could come up with is exactly that - actively developing one's potential, humanity, confidence, kindness, physical and spiritual strength and awareness?
If you have a child... As he grows, would you want that child to learn to believe in you (his parent) or in himself? The analogy might not be a very good one, but still...
Maybe there is more to this quote.