Authentic Worshippers

God is looking for authentic worshippers who will live for Him by His Spirit and in His Truth (John 4:23). When we come to truly understand that we are dead, and that our life is hidden with Christ in God, we live in God’s power, which works in and through us (Colossians 3:3; Galatians 2:20). God will use our body, soul and spirit by His Spirit to work in the lives of people we encounter each day. He will give us words to speak to them that we cannot possibly know in our human capacity. This opens doors for us to witness to people and to bring Christ into their life, so that He can change their circumstances for their good. 

Sinful mankind, lost in pride, arrogance and the exploitation of others, consider their own needs more frequently than anyone else’s (Romans 12:3). However, God brings everyone down to the same level through the grave (Isaiah 14:15). Our eternal destination is determined by our earthly beliefs. If we live for self, we reap corruption; if we live for Christ, we reap eternal life (John 3:16-18). As we allow the nature of Christ in us to infiltrate every area of our life, we decrease so that He may increase (John 3:30).

It is not difficult to sustain a constant relationship with our living Lord. Every moment of our day is worship to Him. We serve God by the Spirit moving within us and through us. We put no confidence in our fleshly abilities; and we do not boast in our own accomplishments, because we accomplish all things through Christ in us (Philippians 3:3; 2:12-13). Living with honor and respect for the Lord gives us a secure life with protection from lasting harm (Proverbs 19:23). Even negative circumstances turn around for our good (Romans 8:28). He gives us everything we need to live in contentment through a Godly life (1 Timothy 6:6).

Christ in us gives us joy in tribulation (Romans 5:3), hope in devastating trials and loss (Romans 15:13) and a bright vision for the future (Jeremiah 29:11). He is our strength and shield. We can trust in Him with all of our heart. He fills our heart so full of joy that we spontaneously burst forth into songs of praise and thanksgiving (Psalm 28:7). Our faith in His faithfulness is never disappointed. He will not give us the lusts of our flesh, but He always abundantly provides for more than our needs (Ephesians 3:20). If we pray anything according to His will, he hears us and supplies (1 John 5:14).

We cannot fully live without Christ living within us. Paul realized this truth in his life (1 Corinthians 4:7). Jesus’ disciples knew the truth of this statement (John 15:5). Joseph exemplified this when he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams (Genesis 41:16). Rebellious Jonah learned to trust the Lord, as the God of heaven who made the sea and earth (Jonah 1:9). God is always ready to listen to those who devotedly worship Him and are willing to live in His will for their life (John 9:31). Blessed and happy is everyone who worships the Lord and walks in His ways (Psalm 128:1)

Prayer:
Father God, King David put it best, "O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands" (Psalm 63:1-4).

Thought for the Day:

True disciples long for God more than life itself and seek His love and grace as we glorify Him in all that we say and do.

 

Thank you, Southern Sweet Tea, for the use of your photo.

Time For God

 

Many people complain about not having time in their busy schedule to spend time with God. That is the sign of someone who is way too busy. There are many ways we can incorporate prayer into our daily agenda. One idea is to Prayer Walk. This accomplishes several things at once…exercise, prayer for your neighborhood, a time to praise God for the nature all around you, and a time to share your concerns with God and to listen to His advice. Another idea is to stop watching television, which robs us of so many hours in our day. We can also put worship music on while we do household chores and worship right along with the singers.

Those who spend time with God are closer to living a spiritual life than the person who spent hours in Bible College. To do both is even better! Once we come to Christ, the Holy Spirit teaches us all things as we read the Word, listen to sermons and fellowship with other Christians. The longer we live the Christian life, the more tempted we are to think we have arrived. We get complacent and cold hearted toward spiritual things. We grow bored with reading God’s Word and going to church services.

If Satan cannot take you back into a life of sin, the second best weapon he has is to deceive you into apathy in your Christian walk. The Bible tells us that in the last days, the hearts of many will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). There will be a great falling away of people who live as cultural Christians and who do not have a fervent, personal relationship with Christ by His Spirit (Revelation 12:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

In America we have unlimited access to spiritual tools and events. Yet, we make every excuse to miss fellowshipping with other Believers and learning from God’s Word. Our worship turns mechanical and we grow colder by the day. We honor God with our lips, but our hearts are far from Him (Isaiah 29:13).

An intimate relationship with the God of the universe allows us to love and be loved, to walk in victory through the trials of life and to be led by the Spirit of God moment of moment throughout the day (Romans 8:14). When we commit all of our body, spirit and soul – our mind, will and emotions - to Him, we receive blessings from Him in return. His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23), and just waiting for us to enjoy them.

If our spirituality is not infiltrating every compartment of our life, we are not allowing Jesus to live as our Lord. The goal is for us to walk in the spirit at work, home, school, church, the shopping center and on the roadways. The closer we walk with Him the easier it is to trust Him in the hard times (Psalm 56:3; Joshua 1:9). Our uncompromising habitual service to God (Psalm 50:9-10) is more important to Him than occasional grand gestures. He meets us the moment we long for His presence (Jeremiah 29:13), and gives us both the desire and the power to accomplish His will in our life (Philippians 2:12-13).

Prayer:

Father God, You dearly love all of Your children. You shower us with patience and provide everything we need to live a Godly life. Help us not to choose Satan’s lies, but to choose repentance instead (2 Peter 3:9). You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place and to appease Your wrath over our sin. You provide Your Holy Spirit to lead us into Your truth and to strengthen us through the trials of life. Help us to faithfully follow the leading of Your Spirit and to do Your works until Jesus returns to the earth.

Thought for the Day:

God is not an emergency technician that we only call in times of trouble. He is our Lord and Savior and deserves our committed life of devoted worship to Him.