As I put my kids to bed tonight I prayed "just give me something to keep going." Now, I'm not advertising for these people, and I don't even know much of their music but this one was for me tonight. I hope you enjoy it too. Thank you Jesus.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Worship: Self-test
I often hear that worship is not just going to church to sing a few songs each week. Worship is the way I live my life in response to what Jesus has done in my life. Yet, I was still confusing the definitions of "praise" and "worship."
Praise: taking what I know about God and out of gratitude I sing and meditate on His attributes for His glory and for my good.
Praise is an attitude.
Worship: an act of devotion to God.
This is what I found in Psalm 51:
So what is the worship self-test?
Three things should be evident in my life to qualify as living a life of worship:
1. "Sing aloud"
Now I know that may seem like a "no-brainer" but think about it for a minute. When you sing with a congregation of believers, who hears you? Obviously, anyone close to you should hear, but who else? Does God hear you? Of course, He is everywhere. But wait, when I read "sing aloud" I picture David passionately shouting his praise, and I think that there is a part of the heart that only becomes engaged when we give it "all we've got." So in taking this test, do not quickly mark the box if you know you've been holding back.
2. "Declare"
The idea or definition of this declaration is telling in such a way as to stand out and attract attention. Now for me, this flies in the face of "sharing my testimony just by the way I live." The point here is that God wants us to talk about Him and what He has done for us in a way that gets people to stop and listen. Declare. I like that right before David says "declare" he says "O Lord, open my lips." Reading between the lines here I take this as not an easy thing for David to do. I resonate with that. There are times where I feel prompted to speak truth and yet my mouth seems to stop working. I think these moments can be Holy Spirit empowered and used for His purposes when I am willing to worship Jesus by declaring His praise! Simply casting light on God's character, directing others with words to the glory of Christ! The tension is not wanting to "attract attention," but I believe that when we accurately declare praise to Jesus the light, attention, and focus is on Jesus and that is where it belongs. A heart truly engaged in worship can flow through the lips in declaring His praise and it won't end in an ego boost.
3. "Sacrifices"
We see all throughout scripture the emphasis on sacrifice. At the first, it is animal sacrifice - a tangible act, a visible death. But it doesn't stop there because God wants human hearts. Sacrifice is costly for everyone. Counting the cost of sacrifice is a part of true worship. In 1 Chronicles 21 David says that he will not offer to the LORD a sacrifice that costs him nothing.
Heart here means our inner man, mind, will, and heart. What makes us who we are that is what God's going for. He's not asking for us to sacrifice an animal, or sacrifice our feelings. He doesn't want us to just change our attitude for Sunday morning - He is asking for a continual, daily laying down of our rights. To pass this segment of the test, there needs to be a inner willingness to change, repent, and surrender to the sovereignty of God...in everything.
"God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth" John 4:24 ESV
"and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" John 8:32 ESV
"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!" Psalm 95:6 ESV
I hope this leads you to dig deeper into your heart and cry out with David "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! (Psalm 139:23 ESV)" May the Holy Spirit reveal to each of us individually the truth of His word in action in our lives. May we have eyes to see Him at work and be led to sing aloud, declare, and sacrifice even more! May we long to see Jesus!
Praise: taking what I know about God and out of gratitude I sing and meditate on His attributes for His glory and for my good.
Praise is an attitude.
Worship: an act of devotion to God.
Worship is an indicator of the level of my devotion.
But I'm still wondering: How does living a life of worship work? This is what I found in Psalm 51:
(Use of bold text added, taken from the ESV)14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
So what is the worship self-test?
Three things should be evident in my life to qualify as living a life of worship:
1. "Sing aloud"
Now I know that may seem like a "no-brainer" but think about it for a minute. When you sing with a congregation of believers, who hears you? Obviously, anyone close to you should hear, but who else? Does God hear you? Of course, He is everywhere. But wait, when I read "sing aloud" I picture David passionately shouting his praise, and I think that there is a part of the heart that only becomes engaged when we give it "all we've got." So in taking this test, do not quickly mark the box if you know you've been holding back.
2. "Declare"
The idea or definition of this declaration is telling in such a way as to stand out and attract attention. Now for me, this flies in the face of "sharing my testimony just by the way I live." The point here is that God wants us to talk about Him and what He has done for us in a way that gets people to stop and listen. Declare. I like that right before David says "declare" he says "O Lord, open my lips." Reading between the lines here I take this as not an easy thing for David to do. I resonate with that. There are times where I feel prompted to speak truth and yet my mouth seems to stop working. I think these moments can be Holy Spirit empowered and used for His purposes when I am willing to worship Jesus by declaring His praise! Simply casting light on God's character, directing others with words to the glory of Christ! The tension is not wanting to "attract attention," but I believe that when we accurately declare praise to Jesus the light, attention, and focus is on Jesus and that is where it belongs. A heart truly engaged in worship can flow through the lips in declaring His praise and it won't end in an ego boost.
3. "Sacrifices"
We see all throughout scripture the emphasis on sacrifice. At the first, it is animal sacrifice - a tangible act, a visible death. But it doesn't stop there because God wants human hearts. Sacrifice is costly for everyone. Counting the cost of sacrifice is a part of true worship. In 1 Chronicles 21 David says that he will not offer to the LORD a sacrifice that costs him nothing.
Heart here means our inner man, mind, will, and heart. What makes us who we are that is what God's going for. He's not asking for us to sacrifice an animal, or sacrifice our feelings. He doesn't want us to just change our attitude for Sunday morning - He is asking for a continual, daily laying down of our rights. To pass this segment of the test, there needs to be a inner willingness to change, repent, and surrender to the sovereignty of God...in everything.
"God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth" John 4:24 ESV
"and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" John 8:32 ESV
"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!" Psalm 95:6 ESV
I hope this leads you to dig deeper into your heart and cry out with David "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! (Psalm 139:23 ESV)" May the Holy Spirit reveal to each of us individually the truth of His word in action in our lives. May we have eyes to see Him at work and be led to sing aloud, declare, and sacrifice even more! May we long to see Jesus!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Who is your soul's Husband?
“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed;Reading through the Bible last year, I came across this text and it struck me with such force that I have never recovered. If this passage ministers to you, then you may know what I mean when I say that out of my utter brokenness I was completely healed by the power of union with my Maker. No relationship is as dear as the marriage relationship. All relationships have their place and importance, and understanding and believing that Jesus is Savior and Lord and placing trust in him for redemption is the most important step in every human's life. But to understand God's deep love and purpose for my soul I must be united with him in the bond of marriage. The "Bride of Christ" is not just a word picture. Human marriage as described in Ephesians 5 is an echo of the relationship already in action between Christ and the church. I tried to flip the order at first. I wanted my human marriage to be most important in rank and then my soul union with God. And as God graciously revealed this flaw in my life, I was faced with the reality that I had placed expectations on God. Like, "please give me healthy relationships and then out of my gratitude I will fully worship Jesus." What I found out about God was that he doesn't work on my terms - huge surprise there. Reading through the whole Bible, I was faced with a new picture of God - a picture so huge and life altering that I'll never figure it all out, but I'm hungry for more. So then when my life started to slowly come apart at the seems, instead of blaming God, I was able to see his invitation. An invitation to knowing him more, knowing him as husband. He truly loves my soul and provides for me in a way that no human relationship ever can. Now I hear the echo of Ephesians 5 correctly. It isn't a dissonance only to become beautiful in heaven - it is the truest harmony of life in the right order.
be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced;
for you will forget the shame of your youth,
and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
For your Maker is your husband,
the Lord of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called.
For the Lord has called you
like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit,
like a wife of youth when she is cast off,
says your God.
For a brief moment I deserted you,
but with great compassion I will gather you.
In overflowing anger for a moment
I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”
says the Lord, your Redeemer. (Isaiah 54:4-8 ESV)
If this doesn't echo with your heart, will you consider that maybe the reason you are restless and unhappy is not because of your broken relationships with people but your soul's deep longing for more of God. Don't wait to be grateful, worship your Maker/husband now.
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