Chat – Hope for Complete Healing

Week 20: Worship through Praise.

What’s up with Praising God? Do you praise a family member or friend when they accomplish a feat? What do you say to a child when they overcome an obstacle or complete a difficult task? Praise is the act of expressing approval or admiration. If we praise people why should we not also praise God?

The first mention in the Bible of anyone praising God is in Genesis 29:35, which states, “And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, ‘This time I will praise the LORD.’ Therefore, she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.” Leah praised God for giving her a child. The next person to praise God was Moses. In Exodus 15:2, when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. He sang a song to the LORD. Here is one verse he sang, “The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” Why did Moses desire to praise God? Moses experienced an amazing event performed by God. Do you praise God when you experience a miracle? Miracles happen more often than you think.

King David said, “Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD, give praise, O servants of the LORD, who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God! ^/Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant!” –Psalm 135:1-3. When you find yourself in the presence of God, you want to praise Him. When I don’t feel like praising God, then I know I have moved out of His presence. I don’t feel like praising God when I am focused on my problems. But when I recount His goodness and past miracles and apply the truth to my present problems, then I want to praise God. Have you had a similar experience?

This week, as you focus on God and His goodness and salvation, praise Him. Every time you want to worry about this or that, look up and enter God’s presence and praise Him that He is in control, and everything will work out according to His purpose.

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WEEK 20 – May 14 -May 20

Day 134-May 14—Worship God who is mighty to save and rejoices over you.

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. – Zephaniah 3:17

Day 135-May 15—Worship God’s faithfulness and justice to those wronged.

For I the LORD love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. – Isaiah 61:8

Day 136-May 16—Worship God for His might and reward.

Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. – Isaiah 40:10

Day 137-May 17—Worship God for keeping you in perfect peace because you trust Him.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 4) Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. – Isaiah 26:3-4

Day 138-May 18—Worship God’s counsel and wisdom.

This also comes from the LORD of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom. – Isaiah 28:29

Day 139-May 19—Worship God’s grace, mercy, and justice.

Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. – Isaiah 30:18

Day 140-May 20—Worship God’s many attributes.

The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure. – Isaiah 33:5-6

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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 19: Worship involves blessing.

Have you ever been blessed? Has anyone blessed you? One thing I know is how I feel blessed may not be how you feel blessed. What honors me may not honor you. I feel honored when someone does or says something kind to me. Or they acknowledge an accomplishment I did. Some people say that I am a blessing when I am helpful to them. Ask someone how you can bless them. Blessing someone shows honor.

So, what honors God? Is it adoring God as holy and glorifying Him for all his goodness, faithfulness, salvation, etc.? Or is He blessed by our obedience? Both are ways we can bless God. I also believe God is looking for sincere faith, repentance of sin, and humble adoration. 2Chronicals 16:9 states, “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.”

Our focus passages this week are, “Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. ³Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! ⁴For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.” –Psalm 96:2-4 And Psalm 100:4 also tell us, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”

This Psalm passage tells us to sing to the Lord, bless His name, tell of His salvation from day to day, and give Him thanks. In the week 14 post, we discovered why worship is telling others about God’s amazing attributes and works. The week 15 post was worshiping with thanksgiving. And in week 16, we learned about worshiping by singing to the Lord. In this post, we will learn why we are to bless His name, which is explained in verse four; “For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.”

King David tells us why we are to bless the Lord in Psalm 103:1-5. “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2) Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,

• who forgives all your iniquity,

• who heals all your diseases,

• who redeems your life from the pit,

• who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

• who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Read my post about Psalm 103.

As you worship God this week, think of ways you can bless God with your words, actions, telling others, and obedience.

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WEEK 19 – May 7 -May 13

Day 127-May 7—Worship God for giving us His grace and eternal life.

So that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. –Romans 5:21

Day 128-May 8—Worship God because He dwells with us.

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD. – Zechariah 2:10

Day 129-May 9—Worship God’s blessings.

And there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the LORD your God has blessed you. – Deuteronomy 12:7

Day 130-May 10—Worship God for all the good He has given you.

And you shall rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house. –Deuteronomy 26:11a

Day 131-May 11—Worship God for His righteousness and justice.

The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! ² Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. –Psalm 97:1-2

Day 132-May 12—Worship God for covering us with salvation and righteousness.

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. –Isaiah 61:10

Day 133-May 13—Worship God for caring for His servants.

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame. – Isaiah 65:13

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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 18: Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.

When you think of splendor, what comes to your mind? When you think of the splendor of holiness, what comes to your mind? So, what is holiness? The Bible tells us a lot about holiness. Strong’s dictionary says that holiness is a sacred place or thing, and it also means set apart and sanctified as holy. The Bible says, “Worship the LORD in the splendor (beauty) of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!” –Psalm 96:9.

We are told to worship God in the beauty of holiness. We know God is holy because Psalm 99:9 states, “Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy!” Being holy is being blameless (Eph. 1:4) and without blemish (Eph. 5:27). God never sins, so our sin separates us from God. We must seek God to search our hearts daily to show us any sins. Sin is anything that breaks God’s law of love in what we think, say, or do. When God shows us our sins, we must confess them and repent (1John 1:9). When we are forgiven and washed clean, then we can worship God in the splendor of holiness. Seek God daily to show you your sins, where you are not loving well according to how He loves. We also must repent by asking God to take the temptation to be resentful or sinful away and give us His heart of love and purity.

1Peter 1:14-16 states, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” If God said we are to be holy, then we can and should be holy. That means we seek God to remove our sinful desires and give us His desire and daily walk in His love. Ephesians 5:1-2 states, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2) And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” If you have a hard time loving, please read the book on my website to work through the resentments and hurt from your past so that you can have the beauty of holiness in your life. With God’s help, you can worship Him in the splendor of holiness.

As you worship God this week, imagine what it will be like to stand before God. Will you tremble and fall on your face, or will you dance? It reminds me of the song “I Can Only Imagine.”

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WEEK 18 – April 30 -May 6

Day 120- April 30—Worship God as your everlasting light and glory.

The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. – Isaiah 60:19

Day 121-May 1—Worship God for giving us the knowledge of Jesus.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. –2Corinthians 4:6

Day 122-May 2—Worship God’s wisdom, knowledge, hope, glorious riches, and power.

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might. –Ephesians 1:17-19

Day 123-May 3—Worship God that you will be united with Him forever.

Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready. –Revelations 19:7

Day 124-May 4—Worship God for showing His love to you.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. –Romans 5:8

Day 125-May 5—Worship God for justifying and saving you.

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. – Romans 5:9

Day 126-May 6—Worship God for reconciling you to Himself through Jesus.

For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. – Rom 5:10-11

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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 they encountered 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 do I need to put off to do what He expects of me?

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WEEK 17 – April 23 -April 29

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

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

²Ascribe 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

April 24-Day 114—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

April 25-Day 115—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

April 26-Day 116—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

April 27-Day 117—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

April 28-Day 118—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

April 29-Day 119—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

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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.

Worship God with serving and singing – Week 16 of 365 Days of Worship.

Do you ever wonder why a Worship service begins with singing? Psalm 100:2 says, “Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” Singing is the perfect method for focusing on God. So, when you sing a hymn or spiritual song, lift your heart to heaven and sing to the Lord. When your heart is heavy with worry or offended, you do not feel like singing or worshiping God. Give your worries and offenses to God, and then you can enter His presence by singing. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When peace is in your heart, it allows you to focus on God, not the worldly issues around you.

Let’s not skip the first part of Psalm 100:2, which is to serve the Lord with gladness. Serving God is serving family, children, church members, and the unsaved. Hebrews 6:10 states, “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.” Serving God with gladness is showing Him love and is an act of worship.

King David wrote the following in Psalm 95:1-2; “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! ²Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” Many people say they can’t sing. My husband cannot sing a melody, so his singing is a joyful noise. We also learn from this verse that we also come into the presence of God with thanksgiving. I wrote about this in last week’s post; if you haven’t read it yet, please do.

In the last fifteen weeks of worship, have you noticed a common theme of singing praises to God? In the English Standard Version, 104 verses include the word sing. The first recorded song in the Bible is in Exodus 15, which extolled praise to God right after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea when He parted it to save them from the Egyptian Army.

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WEEK 16 – April 16 -April 22

April 16—Day 106—Worship God as the healer.

“If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer.” –Exodus 15:26

April 17—Day 107—Worship God our provider.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. –Philippians 4:19-20

April 18—Day 108—Worship God your rock, salvation, fortress, glory, and refuge.

He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. ⁷On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. ⁸Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. –Psalm 62:6-8

April 19—Day 109—Worship God who is the king of Kings.

They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” –Revelations 17:14

April 20—Day 110—Worship God, who is the only God.

I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. –Isaiah 45:5-6

April 21—Day 111—Worship God who answers prayer.

Before they call, I will answer; while they are yet speaking, I will hear. –Isaiah. 65:24

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. –Ephesians 3:20

April 22—Day 112—Worship God for his steadfast love and peace that will not depart from you.

For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. –Isaiah 54:10

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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 15—Thankfulness

When you are busy, suffering, or offended, you don’t feel like being thankful or worshiping God. Being too busy, suffering, and offended is all too common in our lives. When you don’t feel like worshiping God, humbly look up, confess your sins, forgive all offenses, and seek God in prayer right where you are. Think of a promise, like “God will never leave me nor forsake me, and He is my helper (Heb. 13:5-6).” Or “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13).” Or “You can do far more abundantly than I can think or ask according to the power within me (Eph 3:20).” Now say thank you, Lord, for always being with me, even when I don’t feel You are. Thank you, Lord, for giving me Your strength to endure (_whatever_). Say, “I praise and worship you for being faithful to me.” Spend time in God’s presence and feel the stresses of life lift off you.

Another way to cultivate thankfulness is to listen to worship music or hymns. The lyrics will lift your spirit to God’s throne room. As you listen to the lyrics, be thankful for the encouraging message. King David said, “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night” (Psalm 92:1-2). It is good to give thanks. Sometimes, being thankful is a sacrifice. Psalm 107:21-22 states, “Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! ²²And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!”

In Psalm 7:17, David said, “I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.” In Psalm 106:1, David said, “Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” When you are thankful and praise God, the devil can’t take up space in your head.

Worship requires a thankful heart. A thankful heart is needed to rise above difficulties and heal painful memories. Troubles are necessary because they direct us to God. I don’t know what is happening in your life but understand that God knows and is your shepherd and your comforter or protector. As you worship God this week, be mindful of how good God is to you.

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WEEK 15 – April 9 -April 15

April 9—Day 99—Worship God our justifier.

It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. –Romans 3:26

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. –Romans 8:33

April 10—Day 100—Worship God who is patient.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. –2Peter 3:9

April 11—Day 101—Worship God’s Holiness

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to said, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” –Revelations 4:8

April 12—Day 102—Worship God who is giving.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? –Romans 8:31-32

April 13—Day 103—Worship God who comforts the depressed.

But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. –2Corinthians 7:6

April 14—Day 104—Worship God of peace.

Now, may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. –1Theselonians 5:23

April 15—Day 105—Worship God who gives you victory.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. –1Corinthians 15:57

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 14—Tell Others

If you won a gold medal, would you show it off and be happy about your accomplishment? If you wrote a best-selling book, would you go around telling people about it in hopes they buy it? We have the hope of eternal life with the eternal God who made everything in our universe. Does God’s love and forgiveness of sins make you feel happy and excited enough to tell others?

I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. –Psalm 89:1

King David was a singer. Do you like to sing? My husband does not sing during worship, mostly because he sings off-key. I thought he didn’t like singing, but I caught him singing with a worship CD. Yes, he was totally off-key, but he was singing with a sincere heart of worship. I was blessed. Singing is a form of worship. The above verse tells how David not only sang of God’s love but told others of God’s faithfulness.

Telling others of God’s mighty deeds, love, and faithfulness is also a method of worship. King David wrote in Psalm 71:17-18, “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. ¹⁸ So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.” Are you teaching children and telling others around you about the power and mighty deeds of God? Jesus also said in Matthew 10:7, “And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” The Apostle John said in 1John 1:3, “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” Tell someone about your experience with Jesus so they too may have fellowship with other believers and with Jesus Christ.

As you worship God this week, encourage others about the wonderful deeds of God and the wonderful things he has done for you.

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April 2-Day 92—Worship God the Creator

Creator God, I praise You because ‘You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. –Nehemiah 9:6

April 3-Day 93—Worship God the Sanctifier

For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified, all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation, I will sing your praise.” –Hebrews 2:11-12

April 4-Day 94—Worship God the Almighty

O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you? ⁹You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. –Psalm 89:8-9

April 5-Day 95—Worship God the Light

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

April 6-Day 96—Worship God who daily bears us up.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. –Psalm 68:19

April 7-Day 97—Worship God who keeps His covenant and love to those who keep His commandments.

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations. –Deuteronomy 7:9

April 8-Day 98—Worship God who does miracles.

You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. –Psalm 77:14

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 13—Worship God with lifted hands – 365 Days of Worship

What do you naturally do when your sports team scores or wins a championship? In your excitement, you raise your hands high in celebration. Have you been to a concert or worship service where people raise their hands? Do you feel like raising your hands, but your worship service does not encourage it? The Bible encourages and even commands that we should lift our hands in worship to God. Psalm 134:2 states, “Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD!”

Raising our hands in worship is a natural physical act of worship. King David says in Psalm 63:3-4; “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. ⁴ So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name, I will lift up my hands.” Raising your hands is an emotional response when you feel happy. I pray that as you follow my 365 Days of Worship you draw closer to God and lift your hands up as you celebrate who He is and what He does for you.

Sometimes, when we raise our hands, we are begging for mercy or surrendering. For example, King David writes in Psalm 28:2, “Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.” The prophet Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations 2:19, “Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street.” And Lamentations 3:4; he writes, “Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven.” Children will often lift their hands up to show they want to be picked up. We too can lift our hands to God and ask Him to pick us up. Try it.

As you worship God this week, raise your hands in worship. Lift your heart in praise and celebration.

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WEEK 13 – March 26 -April 1

Day 85—Worship God because He gives your soul good things.

Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! ⁹For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. –Psalm 107:8-9

Day 86—Worship God and give Him thanks for His wonderful works.

Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. ²Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. ³Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. –Psalm 111:1-3

Day 87—Worship God for His generosity and blessing.

Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD [repent of sin], who greatly delights in his commandments! ²His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. ³Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. –Psalm 112:1-3

Day 88—Worship God for He hears you, sets you free, and is on your side.

Let those who fear the LORD say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” ⁵Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. ⁶The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? –Psalm 118:4-6

Day 89—Worship God for giving you strength and salvation.

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. ¹⁵Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly, the right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!” –Psalm 118:14-16

Day 90—Worship God who keeps us from all evil and harm.

The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. ⁶The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. ⁷The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. ⁸The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. –Psalm 121:5-8

Day 91—Worship God for His wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and sound wisdom.

For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. –Proverbs 2:6-8

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 12—Sacrifice

Sacrifice is difficult. How do you give a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving when you don’t feel like it? Life may be hard, and you feel sad, and you don’t feel like being thankful. Or, you may feel you are too busy to worship God. Maybe bad things may have happened to you that make you depressed, and you can’t praise God.

What is a sacrifice?

Sacrifice is offering your best for the benefit of others. For example, if you make a promise to someone, but it becomes a sacrifice, what do you do? How about sacrificing your time and money to help someone in need? I once sacrificed six hours of my time once a week, plus gas, to drive a friend to her cancer treatment that was one and a half hours away. Worshiping God is a sacrifice because we need to make the time to focus on Him and offer Him the gift of praise and thanksgiving even when we don’t feel like it, or we are too busy.

The Bible gives three examples of sacrifices.

Sacrifice of praise. Hebrews 13:15 states, “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.”
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Sacrifice is thankfulness. Psalm 107:21-22 states, “Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! ²²And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!”
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Sacrifice of our bodies. 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.”

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice as an example for us.

Realize how much God sacrificed for us by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to take the punishment for sins. Ephesians 5:2 says, “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Hebrews 10:12 states, “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.” Knowing how much God loves you and the sacrifice He made should make you praise and thank Him for forgiving you of your sins and giving you eternal life. And because of His sacrifice, we can offer a sacrifice of praise and love.

As you go through this week’s worship focus, please make the sacrifice to take the time to lay down your life as a living sacrifice and press in to worship God with a heart of gratitude.

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WEEK 12 – March 19-25

Day 78—Worship God’s majesty and strength.

The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. ²Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting [eternal]. –Psalm 93:1-2

Day 79—Worship God because He does not forsake us and He is just.

For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. –Psalm 94:14-15

Day 80—Worship God because of his marvelous works and salvation.

Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. ²The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. –Psalm 98:1-2

Day 81—Worship God for His forgiveness and holiness.

O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. ⁹Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy! – Psalm 99:8-9

Day 82—Worship God with thankfulness for His goodness, love, and faithfulness.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! ⁵For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. –Psalm 100:4-5

Day 83—Worship God because of His great works on the earth.

O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. ²⁵Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. –Psalm 104:24-25

Day 84—Worship God for His provision.

From your lofty abode [dwelling] you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. ¹⁴You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart. –Psalm 104:13-15

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 11-Joy

Do you feel joy when someone does something nice for you? Or when you think of someone special in your life? Do you feel glad and thankful when you think of God and all He has done for you? Joy is a feeling of gladness and thankfulness. When and how often do you feel genuinely glad?

Psalm 63:5-7 states, “My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.”

The Psalmist says that his soul, which is his conscience, will, and emotions, will be satisfied. God promises to provide for our needs, but He is more interested in satisfying our souls. When God satisfies our soul with the goodness and the fat of His Word, we will want to praise Him with joy. Also, when you think about His goodness and love for you, then you will feel glad and thankful. The “watches of the night” is when I wake up and cannot fall back to sleep. So meditating on the word of God, especially Psalm 91, 23, or 1, helps me fall peacefully back to sleep. Psalm 91:4 tells us, “He will cover you with his pinions [feathers], and under his wings, you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.” When I think about being under the wings of God, not that God is a bird, but this is a metaphor for keeping you safe and protected.

I have to admit that this week; I did not worship God as much as in the past weeks because I had many worldly responsibilities and distractions and lost my joy. This morning, I got alone with God and looked over all the worship focus verses for the week, and my joy was restored. Jesus explained the importance of abiding in him in John 15. In John 15:11, He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” The Psalmist said in Psalm 16:11; “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” When you abide with Jesus through prayer and abide in His word through meditation, then you will be in His presence and have joy. I pray you have joy as you go through this week’s worship focuses.

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WEEK 11 – March 12-18

Day 71—Worship God for answered prayers.

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. ⁶Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. ⁷In the day of my trouble, I call upon you, for you answer me. –Psalm 86:5-7

Day 72—Worship God for His steadfast love and deliverance.

I give thanks to you [praise You], O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. ¹³For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. –Psalm 86:12-13

Day 73—Worship God because He is merciful, gracious, loving, and faithful.

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. –Psalm 86:15

Day 74—Worship God who rules all things.

The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. –Psalm 89:11.

Day 75—Worship God because He is mighty, righteous, just, loving, and faithful.

You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand. ¹⁴Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. –Psalm 89:13-14

Day 76—Worship God for His protection and commanding angels to guard you.

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. ¹¹For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. ¹²On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. –Psalm 91:9-12

Day 77—Worship God for the work he does that makes us glad.

For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands, I sing for joy. ⁵How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep! ⁶The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this. –Psalm 92:4-6

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.