Chats

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.

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. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When peace is in your heart, you can 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! 2 Let 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.

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

WEEK 16 – April 16 -April 22

Day 106-Apr 16—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

Day 107-Apr 17—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

Day 108-Apr 18—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

Day 109-Apr 19—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

Day 110-Apr 20—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

Day 111-Apr 20—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

Day 112-Apr 20—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

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

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.

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.

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

WEEK 15 – April 9 -April 15

Day 99-Apr 9—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

Day 100-Apr 10—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

Day 101-Apr 11—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 say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” –Revelations 4:8

Day 102-Apr 12—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

Day 103-Apr 13—Worship God who comforts the depressed.

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

Day 104-Apr 14—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

Day 105-Apr 15—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 post 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.

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

WEEK 14 – April 2 -April 8

Day 92-Apr 2—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

Day 93-Apr 3—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

Day 94-Apr 4—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

Day 95-Apr 5—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

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

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

Day 97-Apr 7—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

Day 98-Apr 8—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 post 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.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

WEEK 13 – March 26 -April 1

Day 85-Mar 26—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-Mar 27—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-Mar 28—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-Mar 29—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-Mar 30—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-Mar 31—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-Apr 1—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 post 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.”
  • *
  • 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!”
  • *
  • 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.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

WEEK 12 – March 19-25

Day 78-Mar 19—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-Mar 20—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-Mar 21—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-Mar 22—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-Mar 23—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-Mar 24—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-Mar 25—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 post 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.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

WEEK 11 – March 12-18

Day 71-Mar 12—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-Mar 13—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-Mar 14—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-Mar 15—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-Mar 16—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-Mar 17—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-Mar 18—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 post is copyright protected.

365 Days of Worship-Week 10-Earnestly Seek God

Have you earnestly looked for an item you wanted? I searched my house for days for an item I put down but could not remember where I put it. I just had it, so where is it? After several days, I found it under a pile of clothes. Doing something earnestly means you are focused, intentional, and sometimes zealous. Think of a time when you were searching for something in earnest. What was your mindset?

The focus passage today is found in Psalm 63:1-2 (ESV). David wrote this Psalm in the wilderness of Judah while running from King Saul. Imagine yourself in David’s place as you read.

1) O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

2) So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

Note: The King James Version is the only version that says, “Early will I seek you,” so we will focus on earnestly seeking God, which can be in the early morning. David sought God to provide for him in his time of need. Do you only earnestly seek God when you are in need? Or does your soul thirst for God every day? God says He is our living water in Jeremiah 17:13; “O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water.”

But how do you earnestly seek a spirit you can’t see? We learned in week 5, that we seek Him in spirit and truth. If you believe Jesus is the son of God and has redeemed you, then God’s spirit is in you (1John 4:12-15). His Spirit is but a breath away. How do you look upon God in the sanctuary? The answer is in beholding His power and glory, which is why I have decided to spend a year focusing on God’s many glorious and powerful attributes. As you worship each day, take time to earnestly seek to be refreshed by the fountain of living water.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

WEEK 10 – March 5-11

Day 64-Mar 5—Worship God, who is your rock, salvation, and fortress whom you can trust.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. –Psalm 62:2

On 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. Selah –Psalm 62:7-8

Day 65-Mar 6—Worship God for His awesome deeds toward us.

Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. 6He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him. –Psalm 66:5-6

Day 66-Mar 7—Worship God for His justice and guidance.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. 5Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! –Psalm 67:4-5

Day 67-Mar 8—Worship God who daily bears us up.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. 20Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belongs deliverances from death. –Psalm 68:19-20

Day 68-Mar 9—Worship God who gives us power and strength.

Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God! –Psalm 68:35

Day 69-Mar 10—Worship God for He cares for the needy, poor, and weak.

For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. 13He has pity on the weak and the needy and saves the lives of the needy. 14From oppression and violence, he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight. –Psalm 72:12-14

Day 70-Mar 11—Worship God for His favor and honor.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! –Psalm 84:11-12

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.

365 Days of Worship – Week 9 – Engaged Heart

Are you guilty of going to the house of worship only to think of what you want to do after church? Or, do you daydream or, worse, fall asleep during the worship service? I must confess that I need to pray for God to help me focus, draw near Him, and worship in spirit and truth. My flesh tempts me to go through the motions of worship and not engage my heart.

And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men. –Isaiah 29:13

Jesus quotes this verse in Matthew 15 and Mark 7. In these passages, Jesus is confronting the Pharisees and scribes concerning their traditions. The Pharisees asked the following question in Matthew 15:2; “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” Here is Jesus’s response.

He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 8 “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” –Matthew 15:3-9.

Do you go to church out of tradition and make worship a vain pursuit? Are church traditions more important than the work God wants to do in your life and in others? Mark 7:9 states, “And he said to them, ‘“You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!’” Jesus said in Luke 10:27, “And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.’” Is there someone in your church you do not love but have resentment toward for something they said or did or did not say or do? Forgive those in the church who have offended you, so you don’t break God’s command to love. Prepare your heart to worship God before you enter the church building. And prepare to love those who you feel are hard to love.

Be mindful of your heart the next time you go to church. Perceive your thoughts during the worship service. Ask God to quicken your heart to worship Him in spirit and truth. Psalm 86:12 tells us how to worship “I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.” As you take time to worship God each day, really focus on giving your entire heart and be thankful

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

WEEK 9 – February 26 – March 4 (29th is review)

Day 57-Feb. 26—Worship God, that He is the fountain of life.

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. 10Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart! –Psalm 36:9-10

Day 58-Feb. 27—Worship God, that He delights in us and holds our hand.

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.—Psalm 37:23-24

Day 59-Feb. 28—Worship God’s help in trouble.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. –Psalm 46:1-3

Day 60-Mar 1—Worship God because He sustains you.

Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. –Psalm 55:22

Day 61-Mar 2—Worship God, that we can trust Him to help us walk in the light of life.

In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. 13For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. –Psalm 56:10-13

Day 62-Mar 3—Worship God’s Steadfast Love and Faithfulness

For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 11Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! –Psalm 57:10-11

Day 63-Mar 4—Worship God for His strength and love.

O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress. 10My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. –Psalm 59:9-10

But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. –Psalm 59:16

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.

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.