steadfast worship

Worship is often seen as joining together with other Christians in a corporate time of singing songs and declaring the greatness of God as a group. This is part of church services worldwide. We love to come together in worship services and sing from our soul to God. There is another aspect of worship that we need. We need to have a steadfast worship that fills our everyday lives and becomes a lifestyle.

Steadfast is firm and unwavering. It is resolute and dutiful. Worship is reverence, adoration and the expression of that adoration and reverence of God. It isn’t meant to only occur once or twice a week. Coming together in corporate worship is wonderful, but our daily lives need to be stead fast in worship. Our day to day needs to declare our reverence and adoration of God Almighty. He is worthy of all praise and adoration. 1 Corinthians 16:25 says, For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods. He deserves all our praise and worship. How do we worship him daily? Every day needs to be dedicated to growing closer to Jesus. He is the One who died and rose again just to save us. His love covers a multitude of sins and I want make sure I am giving him the worship he deserves. Daily worship is how we live and how we portray a life dedicated to God. Our words, attitudes and responses to every situation should reflect the hope that we have in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians chapter five there are several verses that we can apply to our daily lives.

Rejoice evermore! We need to have an attitude of rejoicing in our daily activities. Even when things seem to be against us and not going our way, we can rejoice in the Lord.

Pray without ceasing! Having an attitude and a heart ready to pray. We can whisper prayers throughout our day. Prayer is communication with God. We can speak to him a moment’s notice. He is ready to hear and ready to move in the daily situations. He can help us make decisions, give us wisdom to speak or listen, protect and guide his children throughout the day. I ready of one pastor who even prayed daily about what to wear. One time when preparing for a flight, he prayed about his choice of clothing. God impressed on him to wear a certain tie and his suit. When he arrived at the airport, the flights were delayed but because of that tie, an airport employee recognized him as a pastor, got him on a flight and helped him reach his destination in a timely manner. If he had not obeyed God, he would have had to reschedule and miss out on a chance to preach and minister.

In everything give thanks! We may not always feel like being thankful in certain situations. We may not even want to be thankful for life’s difficulties. This verse says ‘in everything give thanks.” We can still have a heart of gratitude and thankfulness for what God has done, is doing and will do in our lives. He is always good. We can trust that God is working for our good and he is always with us. He promised to never leave us or forsake us. We can be thankful for his goodness through every situation. This is not easy but I know it can be done.

My dad always quoted Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it. We can be glad daily. We can rejoice daily. In spite of all circumstances, we need to remember that God has saved us, blessed us and has great things in store for us. He is always good and always working for our good. I cling to this. We can think on the good things of God. Philippians tells us to thing on the good things of God, the true, the honest and the lovely. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we can find our minds filled with worship. We can walk in worship, speak in worship, and become a light of hope to those around us.

We become a light of God’s faithfulness when our hearts and minds steadfast in worship. We can respond with prayer. We can respond with hope. We can respond with the wisdom of God. Our daily walk and our daily lives will demonstrate to others that God is interested in the mundane parts of our lives as well as the big events. He will walk with us through the joys and the trials. He has answers for every situation. He is ready to bless us, keep us and use us. We are available for his purpose when we are walking in daily worship to him with a mind steadfast on him. Steadfast worship is not wavering in the circumstances of life. Steadfast worship occurs throughout our daily lives as we focus on Him and his goodness. Rejoice! Pray! Be thankful! God is good! Our daily lives become a reflection of him as we grow close to him in daily, steadfast worship.

Scriptures:

1 Corinthians 16:25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Luke 18:19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Psalm 118:24

This is the day that the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.er that God has saved us, blessed us and has great things in store for us. He is always good and always working for our good. I cling to this. We can think on the good things of God. Philippians tells us to thing on the good things of God, the true, the honest and the lovely. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we can find our minds filled with worship. We can walk in worship, speak in worship, and become a light of hope to those around us. We become a light of God’s faithfulness when our hearts and minds steadfast in worship. We can respond with prayer. We can respond with hope. We can respond with the wisdom of God. Our daily walk and our daily lives will demonstrate to others that God is interested in the mundane parts of our lives as well as the big events. He will walk with us through the joys and the trials. He has answers for every situation. He is ready to bless us, keep us and use us. We are available for his purpose when we are walking in daily worship to him with a mind steadfast on him. Steadfast worship is not wavering in the circumstances of life. Steadfast worship occurs throughout our daily lives as we focus on Him and his goodness. Rejoice! Pray! Be thankful! God is good! Our daily lives become a reflection of him as we grow close to him in daily, steadfast worship. Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 16:25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Luke 18:19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

broken yet beautiful

Earlier today, I was walking along a beach with my daughter gathering seashells. She was intent on finding certain kinds. While she was intently searching, I walked along and looked for some that matched her specifications. I found a shell that was lovely. It was iridescent on the inside and just shone when the light hit it just right. It was, however, flawed as a piece was broken out of it.  As I was holding it and admiring the pretty colors. God spoke to me. "You may be broken and have gone through things that intend to break you, but you are still beautiful to me. You mine and I love you. I see the beauty and find great joy in my child. I can also heal the brokenness."  I stood on that beach and cried. You see, the last few months have broken me. I have never felt so broken. I have struggled to bring praise in the circumstances. I have not lost my hope in Jesus and I know He is my answer. He is my provider, my shield and my comforter. I have run to him and told him of my pain and my needs. He knows what I have endured. God is so good to me. I know that beyond a shadow of doubt. BUT today, God reminded me that I am still beautiful to Him. He still heals the hurt and pain. He hears the cry of our heart.

 Psalm 43:5 says, Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

David often wrote about the cry of his soul, of the pain, yet turned to praise every time. He still trusted in God. I know I can trust in God to heal the hurt and restore the broken. God has promised he will never leave us, nor forsake us. He is the God that does the impossible. It does not matter how impossible a situation may appear, God can perform miracles. He can do what we cannot. 

I am so grateful that God can still take an unexpected moment and remind me of his love for me. He knows what I need, and when I need it. God knows the broken, yet still sees the beauty. He heals the hurt. 

Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

He give beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning. He will give us the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. He takes what we carry and gives something better. He can take our cares because He cares for us. Lay it down at his feet and he will take over with his peace, joy, and praise shall come forth. He will be glorified through our story.

the good news

This Easter I was thinking about Nicodemus. That may seem strange but when we read about him in John chapter 3, Nicodemus came to Jesus by night to find out who he was. He had questions. He wanted to know if Jesus was the promised Messiah. He asked questions. When Jesus responded "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."  He was struggling to comprehend this message. He asked, "How can these things be?" Jesus gave him an explanation including the famous verse, John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  We need this message. This is the good news.  Jesus came to save this world. He came knowing the outcome of his life. He knew he would die on that cross in excruciating physical pain. He bore all our sins and suffered. We don't have an explanation of what Nicodemus thought about that message. He was so worried about his reputation in John chapter three that he came secretly and did not want anyone to know he was talking with Jesus.  We get to hear about Nicodemus once again in John chapter 19. Jesus had been crucified and had died.  Joseph of Arimathaea asked for his body and in verse 19 "And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight." Nicodemus does not seem embarrassed any longer to be of service to Jesus. I wonder if he believed in Jesus as the Messiah. I think about the fear and worry of Nicodemus and how often I have been fearful of sharing the gospel with someone. We allow fear to prevent our testimony. We allow fear to hinder us from sharing the good news of Jesus to someone who may really need to know Jesus.  Nicodemus was afraid at the beginning, but ended up appearing bold at a time that being a follower of Jesus could have meant death.  He became bold in his care and love of Jesus.  I would love to know more about Nicodemus and his life.  But I do know that God recorded his act of love after the cross. God intended for us to know that Nicodemus did not continue in fear.  We do not need to be afraid to share the gospel of Jesus.The good news that He came to save us! He loves us! He is with us and he empowers us to be the light to this world. Walk in boldness!  Walk in the power we receive from the message that Jesus died and he rose again!   He came to give us life and life more abundantly. What a great gift!  Easter is the time to know and understand the greatest gift given to this world. Jesus came, died, rose again and lives today to save us!