Tag: Prideful

Week 26: Worship God by offering a spiritual sacrifice.

How do you offer your body as a spiritual sacrifice? Romans 12:1 states, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Other versions begin this verse with “Therefore,” which means “in conclusion.” So, we need to look at the end of Romans 11. The Apostle Paul tells the believers in Romans 11:32-33; “For God has consigned [handed over] all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.” We may not understand why God delivers us over to disobedience, but verse 33 explains, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”

We know that God is merciful, and we are disobedient because of the sinful nature we inherited. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Now, Romans 12:1 makes sense; “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Verse 2 further explains how to be a living sacrifice, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

We must willingly sacrifice our sinful nature and, by God’s mercy, choose to renew our minds with the truth to know God’s will and then obey. For example, we naturally want to complain and be discontent. Being thankful is a spiritual sacrifice because we focus on being thankful instead of complaining (Ps. 50:23, 116:17; Phil 4:6; Col 4:2). It is our sinful nature to be self-centered and prideful, but being humble and giving honor to others by considering their interests is a spiritual sacrifice (Phil. 2:3-6). Forgiving others when they offend us is a spiritual sacrifice. What do you think?

Spiritual worship is focused on pleasing God by doing his will. Only He makes us holy and acceptable, so when we sacrifice our fleshly desires to obey God and serve Him, that is our living sacrifice and spiritual worship. Please leave a comment and share your thoughts about what it means to be a living sacrifice.

😊😊😊😊

WEEK 26 – June 25 – July 1

Day 176-June 25—Worship God for strongly supporting us, who are blameless toward Him.

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” –2 Chronicles 16:9

Day 177-June 26—Worship God who delights in the welfare of his servants.

Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, “Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!” – Psalm 35:27

Day 178-June 27—Worship God for His great love and faithfulness toward us.

Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD! – Psalm 117:1-2

Day 179-June 28—Worship God for answering our call for strength.

On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. – Psalm 138:3

Day 180-June 29—Worship God that He regards the lowly (humble).

All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD. 6For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. – Psalm 138:4-6

Day 181-June 30—Worship God that He will fulfill His purpose for you.

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. –Psalm 138:8

Day 182-July 1—Worship God that nothing is too hard for Him.

 ‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. – Jeremiah 32:17

😊😊😊😊

All verses are from the English Standard Bible. To review the previous weeks, go to the 365 Days of Worship Page. This material is copyright protected.

Week 17: Worship God by bowing down and kneeling.

What is the absolute right way to worship God? Should we take our shoes off, like Moses was commanded to do, because where God is, it is holy ground? Am I supposed to bow down or kneel as many of the patriarchs did when encountering an angel of God? Maybe stand and raise my hands? As you may already know, there is no right answer. As I discussed in previous posts, worship has many forms, though we are to worship with our whole heart in reverence. King David said in Psalm 95:6-8a the following.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! 7For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. –Psalm 95:6-8a

When we worship, our focus must be on God, who is our maker. If kneeling or bowing down helps you focus on Him and His mighty power, then do that. Kneeling signifies humility and submission. When people came before kings or rulers, they would often kneel or bow out of reverence for their position.

I find the last phrase of this verse interesting: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Is your heart hard? A hard heart can not be molded or changed because it is a prideful heart. For example, when I took a pottery course, I learned that when clay is exposed to the outside world, it becomes hard. But clay that is kept wet and covered stays malleable and useful for whatever the potter wants. When God speaks to us, either directly, through His word, or another person, and we don’t listen and obey, we will become hard. But when we listen and obey Him, we can be molded into His image and changed to bring Him glory. A humble person is obedient when they hear His voice.

As you worship God this week, pay attention to what God says you should do. Don’t say that it is great for someone else; I am good the way I am; that unhealthy belief reveals a hard heart. A soft heart asks God, how can I do better? What unhealthy beliefs or attitudes must I put off to do what He expects of me?

_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+

WEEK 17 – April 23 -April 29

Day 113- April 23—Worship God’s glory, strength, and splendor of holiness.

Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. –Psalm 29:1-2

Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! –Psalm 96:9

Day 114- April 24—Worship God at His footstool and exalt Him because He is holy.

Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! –Psalm 99:5

Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy! –Psalm 99:9

Day 115- April 25—Worship God and glorify His name for His righteous acts.

Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” –Revelations 15:4

Day 116- April 26—Worship God who made heaven and earth and everything in between.

And he [angel] said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” –Revelations 14:7

Day 117- April 27—Worship God’s ability to turn sorrow into joy.

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever! – Psalm 30:11-12

Day 118- April 28—Worship God’s glorious name and deeds.

Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! 3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. –Psalm 66: 1-3

Day 119- April 29—Worship God’s steadfast love and faithfulness.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! –Psalm 115:11

_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+

All verses are from the English Standard Bible. To review the previous weeks, go to the 365 Days of Worship Page. This post is copyright protected.