Struck this morning by a simple truth.. Read Psalm 100 to begin my quiet time..
Verse 4 Enter His gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with Praise
Spirit brought to my mind Heb. 4:16.. let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence...
When we approach God.. come into His presence.. it must be with Thanksgiving and Praise if we are to be confident in the asking. We don't run in whining, asking, questioning or demanding.. we go in acknowledging WHO He is and What he has done... it is what humbles us .. which leads to surrendering our conceived control and trusting His Sovereignty. True Thanksgiving and Praise requires a Humble heart... they are the heart of Worship.
Showing posts with label Worship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Worship. Show all posts
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Thursday, April 12, 2012
A One.. Two Punch
Catching up on my reading in the Daily Walk Bible today. This verse really grabbed me... 2 Kings. 17:41 "Even while these people were worshipping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren do as their fathers did."
WHOA! Who or what am I serving today? Work, money, media, computer, me (selfishness), food, laziness... the list in endless!
And a reminder that what I do today affects the generations to come. What kind of legacy am I leaving?
Then I opened up the book Mighty Prevailing Prayer by Wesley L. Duewel and read this....
"Whatever gets you too busy for prayer time, whatever distracts you from holy prevailing, whatever robs you of hunger for God, for souls, and for time for prayer warfare is a hindrance to God and His kingdom. You cannot afford it."
Again WHOA! Obviously the Lord is telling me something here. Time for some soul searching... by the Holy Spirit!
WHOA! Who or what am I serving today? Work, money, media, computer, me (selfishness), food, laziness... the list in endless!
And a reminder that what I do today affects the generations to come. What kind of legacy am I leaving?
Then I opened up the book Mighty Prevailing Prayer by Wesley L. Duewel and read this....
"Whatever gets you too busy for prayer time, whatever distracts you from holy prevailing, whatever robs you of hunger for God, for souls, and for time for prayer warfare is a hindrance to God and His kingdom. You cannot afford it."
Again WHOA! Obviously the Lord is telling me something here. Time for some soul searching... by the Holy Spirit!
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. Ps. 139:23-24
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Worship or Whine?
from Sept. 2, 2008
I took a slight detour from my walk in the Psalms today. I was working on some Bible study homework and as part of it I read Job 1. I am not a big fan of the book of Job... it confuses me at times and so much of it seems depressing to me. Although I do love the later chapters when God answers and tells Job WHO He is.. awesome chapters!
Today though, something clicked for me as I read. Something I had never really thought of even though I have read this passage many times before.
Life is going on as normal and then in verse 14 the Sabeans attacked.. verse 16 says while he (the messenger) was still speaking another came to announce that the Chaldeans had raided... and in verse 19 while the 2nd messenger was speaking another one came to announce the destruction from a mighty wind.
How often in my life does it seem that "bad" stuff comes all at once.. not just 1 thing... usually several. Job has that very thing happen... it would have been so easy for him to just throw up his hands and say "That's it... I've had it... what more can go wrong." But instead, we read that he chose to worship God.
What do I choose to do when things pile up on me? Do I worship or do I whine? Or do I just deal with my stuff in my own strength doing what has to be done but not letting God work through me... not being a willing vessel? Often during these times I find myself "too busy" for God... no time to read my Bible... barely time for quick rushed prayers which are usually offered on the move.
I get through, but at what price? What blessings do I miss when I don't worship in the midst of it all?
I took a slight detour from my walk in the Psalms today. I was working on some Bible study homework and as part of it I read Job 1. I am not a big fan of the book of Job... it confuses me at times and so much of it seems depressing to me. Although I do love the later chapters when God answers and tells Job WHO He is.. awesome chapters!
Today though, something clicked for me as I read. Something I had never really thought of even though I have read this passage many times before.
Life is going on as normal and then in verse 14 the Sabeans attacked.. verse 16 says while he (the messenger) was still speaking another came to announce that the Chaldeans had raided... and in verse 19 while the 2nd messenger was speaking another one came to announce the destruction from a mighty wind.
How often in my life does it seem that "bad" stuff comes all at once.. not just 1 thing... usually several. Job has that very thing happen... it would have been so easy for him to just throw up his hands and say "That's it... I've had it... what more can go wrong." But instead, we read that he chose to worship God.
What do I choose to do when things pile up on me? Do I worship or do I whine? Or do I just deal with my stuff in my own strength doing what has to be done but not letting God work through me... not being a willing vessel? Often during these times I find myself "too busy" for God... no time to read my Bible... barely time for quick rushed prayers which are usually offered on the move.
I get through, but at what price? What blessings do I miss when I don't worship in the midst of it all?
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