Christian Devotionals
The Importance of Worship (1)
"'Let everything that has breath praise the Lord...'" Psalm 150:6 NKJV
A woman in Kansas City entered a Häagen-Dazs store for an ice cream cone. After getting it, she turned around and found herself face-to-face with Paul Newman, who was in town filming Mr. & Mrs. Bridge. He said, 'hello.' His radiant blue eyes caused her knees to shake. She managed to pay for her cone, then left the shop, heart pounding. When she regained her composure she realized she didn't have her ice cream cone. She started back into the store and met Newman at the door. 'Are you looking for your ice cream?' he asked. She nodded, unable to speak. 'You put it in your purse with your change,' he said, smiling. When was the last time your knees went weak, your pulse quickened and your heart was overwhelmed with praise to God? If you can't remember, self-interest, busyness, or spiritual complacency may have seduced you into seeking fulfilment in lesser things. The hymn-writer defines worship as 'Lost in wonder, love and praise.' The Psalmist writes about the whole gamut of human emotion, but he focuses on one theme above all others: praise. In his last psalm he writes: 'Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.' (Psalm 150:1-6 NKJV)
The Importance of Worship (2)
"'Oh come, let us worship...'" Psalm 95:6 NKJV
In his book Good Morning, Merry Sunshine, Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Greene chronicles his daughter's first year. When little Amanda began crawling, he records: 'This is something I'm having trouble getting used to. I will be in bed reading a book or watching TV, and I will look down at the foot of the bed and there will be Amanda's head staring back at me. Apparently I've become one of the objects that fascinates her... After months of having to go to her, now she is choosing to come to me. I don't quite know how to react. All I can figure is that she likes the idea of coming in and looking at me. She doesn't expect anything in return. I'll return her gaze and in a few minutes she'll decide she wants to go back to the living room and off she'll crawl.' The simple pleasure of looking at the one we love, is what we enjoy each time we worship God and bask in His presence. And that's something we must take time to do, otherwise we won't. There's a danger in any doctrine that focuses only on what we want from God, and neglects the thing we were created and redeemed to do - worship Him. (See Revelation 4:11.) How should we approach God? 'Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise...' (Psalm 100:4 NKJV) How often should we praise God? 'Seven times a day I praise You...' (Psalm 119:164 NKJV) Why should we praise God? '...That you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.' (1 Peter 2:9 NKJV)
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