Hello my dear friends! As I write today, storm clouds are coming my way (the weather-related kind). The history of this storm is an ominous one, leaving in its wake tragic death and massive property destruction. There is a principle here that transitions very well into the spiritual lesson department for the believer.
Each one of us have faced the kinds of storms of life that caused us great hurt and harm. And yet, here we are. Still here. Still living. Still trusting in the goodness of God.
The Psalmist was quite familiar with storms too. The lesson he leaves behind is his testimony of worship. May his words of worship encourage us during our current storm and our fight to survive, or, for sure, when the next storm comes our way.
"Sonny" skies are coming,
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #14
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 20 Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name. 22 Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, According as we have hoped in You. Psalm 33:20-22
Core Value: Worship
“Hurry up and wait.” For many disciples, this is the slogan that defines one’s relationship with the Lord. The pace of life is hurried, harried, and stressed out to the max. We know God loves us, but we are too busy to rest in His love. We know He has a plan for us, but we are too distracted to slow down and find out what His plan for us is for today. We know we need to have a growing relationship with Him, but our busyness has contributed to the loss of our first love. Consequently, we have become content with a lukewarm status quo, slowly drifting away from the One who loves us so.
The act of worship is the great accelerator, the dynamic catalyst, to help us slow down the “rat race” of the Christian life and place our focus, love and devotion upon the Lord. When we offer God our worship, we are getting our eyes (and heart) off of us and off our circumstances. The heart that worships God is a heart that experiences God’s hope, God’s help, and God’s mercy. As we learn to wait for the Lord, we will be living in His strength, not ours (Isaiah 40:28-31).
Principle #14 & Personal Application: The quality disciple chooses to hope in the Lord and to worship Him, setting aside all distractions.
• As we worship and wait for the Lord, we place our hope in Him. He is our help and shield.
• As we worship the Lord and rejoice in Him, we place our hope in Him. We trust in His holy name.
• As we worship the Lord and experience His lovingkindness, we place our hope in Him. We are embraced by His mercy and place all hope in the Lord.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
Where to I typically place my hope: in myself, in the hands of others, in the world, or in the Lord?
What would my life look like if I spent more time worshiping the Lord instead of worrying about the things I cannot control?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, my soul does wait for You. You, O Lord, are my help and shield of protection. May my heart always rejoice in You as I trust in Your holy name. May Your lovingkindness be upon me as I hope in You. May my worship always be centered in the truth that my hope, my only hope, is in You.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
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