Tag: Rejoice

365 Days of Worship – Week 8 – Exult

Do you like it when people exult you and tell you how great you are? I like it. In this week’s lesson, you will learn why those with an upright heart exalt God. When we exalt God, we lift our praise and extol (worship) His name and virtues (qualities). Psalm 34:3 states, “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!”

Why does the righteous rejoice in God?

The Bible says in Psalm 64:10, “Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!” At the time King David wrote this verse, the righteous one was the person who obeyed God. Why do the righteous rejoice in the Lord but not the unrighteous? Just thinking, if the righteous obey God, that means the unrighteous are giving in to their sinful, fleshly desires and do not desire to rejoice in the Lord. Romans 8:8 says, “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” If our lives are not pleasing to God, we will not want to worship Him. How about you? Do you desire to please God, rejoice in the Lord, and take refuge in Him?

Who is the upright in heart?

The last phrase of Psalm 64:10 says, “Let all the upright in heart exult!” Why are the upright in heart encouraged to exalt? Who is the upright in heart? Someone “upright in heart,” is in right standing with God by repenting of their sin. Psalm 119:7 explains, “I will praise you with an upright heart when I learn your righteous rules.” And Psalm 32:11 states, “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” When we realize how God saved us from the control of sin and showed us mercy by forgiving us, we will rejoice and be glad. King David says in Psalm 35:9, “Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation.” Are you in right standing with God, or do you need to repent of sin?

As you worship God this week, remember to exalt God in your worship. Psalm 99:5 encourages us to “Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!”

WEEK 8 – February 19-25

Day 50—Worship God’s abundant goodness.

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! –Psalm 31:19

Day 51—Worship God that He watches over us.

The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned, he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. –Psalm 33:13-15

Day 52—Worship God, that we can hope in His steadfast love.

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him (repent of sin), on those who hope in his steadfast love [loving kindness; mercy], that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. –Psalm 33:18-19 and Psalm 41:2-3

Day 53—Worship God, how He delivers us from all our fears.

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. 3Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. –Psalm 34:1-4

Day 54—Worship God’s goodness, deliverance, and provision.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! 9Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! 10The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. –Psalm 34: 7-10

Day 55—Worship God’s deliverance of the righteous.

The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. 16The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. –Psalm 34:15-17

Day 56—Worship God’s steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, and judgments, and He is our refuge.

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 6Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD. 7How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. –Psalm 36:5-7

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.

365 Days of Worship – Week 7 – Seeking

Are you seeking God’s presence continually? I hope you feel closer to God as you follow my daily worship focuses. As I meditate throughout the day on an attribute of God, I feel more in awe of our great God, my Father in heaven. Last week, I explained how to worship in reverence and awe. This week’s worship teaching is on how to seek God and why. Psalm 40:16 states, “But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, ‘Great is the LORD!’” Everyone who seeks God will have joy and hope because He is great.

As I pray for God to direct my thoughts, I realize that seeking something is a willful action to attain the thing you are seeking. In other words, you make time to attain what you seek for. If you are seeking to attain a PhD, you will take the time to study and do research. Or, if you lost something or want to find an item, you take time to search. How do you spend your time? When do you take time to seek God?

Seek God with all your heart and mind and repent of sin.

Deuteronomy 4:29 explains, “But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find him if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.” We will find God only when we take the time to search for him with all our heart and soul. Acts 17:27 tells us, “That they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.” Also, James 4: 8 tells us, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Remember, God is perfect, and He hides His face from those who have sin in their lives (Ps. 66:18 and Is. 59:2). Therefore, we need to confess our sins daily, and God promises to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9). Ask God to search your heart and mind for any unloving way in you, then confess it and repent.

So how do we seek God? Here is what the Bible says.

  • Daniel sought God through prayer (Dan. 9:3).
  • Jehoshaphat sought God through fasting and prayer (2Chron. 20:3).
  • Isaiah says to seek God’s righteousness (Is. 51:1) Zephaniah said to seek God seek righteousness (do what is right) and humility (Zeph. 2:3).

Why should we seek the Lord?

Give Him thanks, call on His name, and tell others about Him.

Finally, Psalm 105:1-4 states, “Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! 2Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! 3Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! 4Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!” Are you telling others about God and giving Him thanks? Do you sing to Him? I have a worship book that I pick a song from, to sing to God. Do you feel joy when you worship God? Are you seeking God’s presence continually? You can through continual prayer (Eph 6:18 and 1Thes. 5:17).

Throughout the day, worship God and rejoice in Him through the daily worship focuses this week. Rejoice in the greatness of our God!

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WEEK 7 – February 12-18

Day 43-Feb. 12—Worship God’s paths of steadfast love and faithfulness.

All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. –Psalm 25:10c

Day 44-Feb. 13—Worship God’s instruction and guidance.

Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. 13His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land –Psalm 25:12-13 (Fear the Lord is to turn from evil; repent.)

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. –Psalm 32:8

Day 45-Feb. 14—Worship God’s light and salvation.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? –Psalm 27:1

Day 46-Feb. 15—Worship God’s beauty and being in His temple.

One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. –Psalm 27:4

Day 47-Feb. 16—Worship God’s shelter in the day of trouble.

For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. –Psalm 27:5

Day 48-Feb. 17—Worship God, because we can trust Him.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. –Psalm 28:7

Day 49-Feb. 18—Worship God’s holy name and favor.

Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. 5For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. –Psalm 30:4-5

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.