Since worship is focusing on and responding to God, regardless of what else we are doing we are not worshiping if we are not thinking about God.

You may be listening to a sermon, but without thinking of how God’s truth applies to your life and affects your relationship with Him you aren’t worshiping. You may be singing “Holy, holy, holy,” but if you aren’t thinking about God while singing it, you are not worshiping. You may be listening to someone pray, but if you aren’t thinking about God and praying with them, you aren’t worshiping.

There is a sense in which all things done in obedience to the Lord even everyday things at work and at home, are acts of worship. But these things are not substitutes for the direct worship of God.

from Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

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Gender-neutral version:

Since worship is focusing on and responding to God, regardless of what else we are doing we are not worshiping if we are not thinking about God.

You may be listening to a sermon, but without thinking of how God’s truth applies to your life and affects your relationship with God you aren’t worshiping. You may be singing “Holy, Holy, Holy,” but if you aren’t thinking about God while singing it, you are not worshiping. You may be listening to someone pray, but if you aren’t thinking about God and praying with them, you aren’t worshiping.

There is a sense in which all things done in obedience to the Lord, even everyday things at work and at home, are acts of worship. But these things are not substitutes for the direct worship of God.

from Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life