Thoughts for Life: What Defines You?

Jean Oathout shares with us. "Worship is an expression of how we value and honor the Divine.

It is our heartfelt response to who God is..

We were designed to worship. That’s the way God made us.

He designed us to need Him to live a long, happy, healthy life.

We worship (hold up in highest regard) someone or something, a fact easily recognized in our current age.

We are known to take something good, elevate it to number one status, thus turning it into an idol.

The question is, what things of interest are contending for first place in our efforts as "real" worship?

Do you understand who God is, and why it is we are to worship Him?

Other things of interest are trying to take first place.

Worship happens when we see God for Who He is. Divine Deity is worthy of adoration!

It happens when we recall what He has done. God desires for us to worship Him.

This is called worshiping in Truth and in Spirit, (and with sincerity and honesty of heart), and in awe and respect for the One Who is Creator.

Is. 66:2a "For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD."

Are we responding to God in such a way as to honor Him?

Is He Lord of your life? Is He the One you worship?

God desires His rightful place in your thinking, as He created you, and sustains you.

It’s God’s purpose to meet us in our worship, to strengthen, guide, and bless us.

It is for our good that we put Him first, and to let nothing be beside or in the place of Jesus Christ in our hearts and lives.

Are you secure in your devotion to God, that Satan cannot touch you?

What choices do you make when an opportunity presents itself to worship God?

Are there other things that you put more interest in, such as sports, TV, movies, etc?

Do you allow things to take God’s place in your life?

If we give anything 1^st place other than God, it becomes a god to us.

God’s looking for a people who will be transformed through worship.

If you have the Holy Spirit within you, there is Life in you that longs for fellowship with the Savior.

If we make worship only an event, we miss out on daily opportunities, and then we miss out on a deeper expression at the event itself.

Worship comes from the inside out, and needs expression!

It’s not about our ability, but what comes from our hearts.

Worship is an expression of honor, value and humility.

We come into God's presence as we learn of His ways through the Scriptures.

They are to guide us, as to Who God is.

As we bow in reverence to this understanding, our hearts are enlarged and cry out "Yes!"

Remember, true worship happens when we remember what God has done, and Who He is. Ps. 7:17a "I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness."

The life you live on a daily basis declares what you believe about God.

Our praise begins in the sanctuary of our hearts, but it must be let out in expression as we grow in our understanding of what all our God has done.

Let's give God the thanks and praise He's so worthy of.

When we come together as a congregation of people to praise God, we strengthen one another as we glorify Him together. God is lifted up in our midst.

He loves the praises of His people!"

{These thoughts where gleaned from a class on WORSHIP, taught by my pastor, Daniel Paladin}

(Google images and emphasis added)

Let’s pray:

Father, we come to You today, in all sincerity, to ask that You help us worship You in Spirit and in Truth.

Your Spirit enables us to truly worship from our hearts, and Your Truth enlightens us as to why,
and how.

Embolden us to express ourselves in ways that bring honor and pleasure to You.

It is our desire to be good examples of Your grateful children, because of Christ’s Atonement through the Cross of Calvary.

May we become worshipers You’ll be pleased with.

In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Today's prayer for your pastor: "Pray that your pastor will be a man of faith and have a passionate love for God, not giving in to worries, fears, or an uptight and anxious spirit." 1 John 4:18; Prov. 3:5-6

Today’s Bible verse: Isa. 66:2 NASB “For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being.’ declares the LORD. ‘But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.’ ”

Today’s quotes: David Morris – “In true worship, God is preeminent and the center of our attention. Conversely,
in false worship we are preeminent and our needs are the
center of attention.”

Sue Schlesman - "The challenge is... to fight the desire for measured success. Make your objective a continual surrendering of personal fulfillment to the immeasurable and incomprehensible filling of the Holy Spirit, however unsuccessful that may appear day-to-day. This is your spiritual act of worship."

Some thoughts today: God plants eternity in our hearts. We tend to find our identity in something besides Jesus. As God desires greatness in us, greatness with God begins where the focus of self ends, and we become servants.

- As it is God’s desire to meet folks in their need, He will help the seeker, in spite of other’s failures. Without a seeker’s anointing, we’ll miss the move of God. Without a seeker’s heart, there’s no anointing. If you’re not hungry and seeking for God’s anointing, why go to church?

- If you’re not growing in faith, remember that Jesus still loves you. Seek to know Him afresh. Get under the spout of the Holy Spirit and get refreshed today!

Sunday’s post: Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross Fanny J. Crosby

Tuesday's post: #41 Pastors Need to Pray More C. Peter Wagner

Thursday's post: #42 Prayer Time must be Sufficient C. Peter Wagner

Saturday's post: Stay the Course Max Lucado

Sunday's post: Wounded. Broken. Abused. Tammie Johnson