Hello my dear friends. A warm, very warm . . . ok, a really hot welcome from sunny South Carolina. As we pass through the dog days of summer, I have a fresh appreciation for the blessing of air conditioning and cold drinks.
And even as I say this I am reminded that most of the world goes to bed every night uncomfortable with a lack of food, a lack of protection from the elements, a lack of good health. I often find myself worshiping the Lord for the "things" I have instead of worshiping Him for who He is and the great things He does.
This week's Psalms of Discipleship reminds us that the worship that pleases the Lord is a worship that goes beyond a busy activity of religion to a lifestyle of sacrificial worship that leads to a transformation of our mind. This kind of worship changes our mind and changes how we live this life--learning how to walk in His will.
Learning to worship Him as I walk with Him,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #29
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 1 "I love You, O LORD, my strength." 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3
Core Value: Worship
A heart that has been touched by the power and presence of Almighty God will lead to an authentic worship of the Lord. Worship is the logical response of a needy person to a God who is not only great, but good too. Biblical worship is always focused upon His character and His awesome power. A disciple of Jesus desires to grow beyond a superficial worship into a life that is a living and holy sacrifice:
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 (NASB95)
In the book, Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster underscores the priority of this kind of worship when he writes,
“If the Lord is to be Lord, worship must have priority in our lives. The first commandment of Jesus is, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength’ (Mark 12:30). The divine priority is worship first, service second. Our lives are to be punctuated with praise, thanksgiving, and adoration. Service flows out of worship. Service as a substitute for worship is idolatry. Activity is the enemy of adoration.” (Pg. 160-161)
Principle #29 & Personal Application: The quality disciple of Jesus Christ offers a dynamic worship of the Lord from a heart that knows Him personally: He is mine!
As a believer:
• I can have a loving relationship with God (vs.1).
• I can personally experience a life that is impacted by Him: He is my strength, He is my rock, He is my fortress, He is my deliverer, He is my God, He is my refuge, He is my shield, He is the horn of my salvation, He is my stronghold (vs. 2).
• I can call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised (vs. 3).
• I can be saved from my enemies (vs. 3).
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
How can I make sure that my relationship with the Lord is personal and not distant and far removed?
In what ways does my prayer life complement my worship of God?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, how amazing it is to love and follow You! To walk with You gives me such an assurance that You will be my strength, rock, fortress, deliverer, God, refuge, shield, horn of my salvation, and my stronghold. By faith, I call upon You for You are worthy to be praised!
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
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