Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #43--Worship--November 5, 2011

Hello my dear friends! We are quickly entering into a season on the calendar that even non-believers understand: the need to give thanks. To give thanks! How much more so should believers in Jesus Christ be in tune with thanking God and giving Him glory. The Psalmist reminds us that worship is not an non-committal act of going through the motions. Biblical worship should consume all our energy with an enthusiastic worship.

Need some encouragement on how to set in place a heart of worship and thanksgiving this holiday season? At the end of today's devotion is a link to a resource called "Christmas Meditations of Worship: Four Weeks of Advent. A Season of Worship and Celebration." This four week, interactive study is a great tool for individual and group study.

Learning with you,

Denny


Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #43

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 1 O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy. 2 For the LORD Most High is to be feared, A great King over all the earth. Psalm 47:1-2

Core Value: Worship

Worship fatigue. Do you experience it? Its symptoms are a callus heart, a mundane life, and a defeated surrender to a hollow religious experience (and calling it Christianity). Worship fatigue is the logical outcome when the most important relationship we have in the Christian faith (our love affair with Jesus) is replaced with meaningless rituals that are kept solely due to a legalistic duty, not out of love. Worship fatigue can become fatal to one’s spiritual life unless it is quickly discovered and remedied.

What is the only known antidote for worship fatigue? We surrender to Jesus. We worship Jesus by faith and in obedience and express a passionate love for the living Lord Jesus Christ. For once we know Him, really know Him, and experience Him, really experience Him, and love Him, really love Him, our worship for Him will consume us entirely (our hands and our voice), all of us. This timeless principle rings true: An energetic worship of Jesus will produce an energetic faith.

Principle #43 & Personal Application: The quality disciple practices an energetic worship of God.

• We can worship the Lord with our hands.
• We can worship the Lord with our voice of joy.
• We can worship the Lord with a reverent fear of Him.

1. Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2. Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3. Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee

Take My Life and Let It Be | Frances R. Havergal

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
What realistic steps can I begin to take that will enhance my worship of God?

What kinds of things I can shout out to God about today?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, this day I choose to renew my worship of You. I choose to become more energetic, more expressive of my love for You. Take my life, my hands, my voice, my treasures, my will, my love and use them as an offering of worship directed to 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.

"Christmas Meditations of Worship: Four Weeks of Advent. A Season of Worship and Celebration."

Sights. Smells. Sounds. Sales.

For many people, Christmas is nothing more than a materialistic exercise in futility. The hectic pace of the holiday season often depletes more than it fills, and the craziness of the season is normalized, causing many believers to settle for a “Christ-less” Christmas.

Reflection upon the first Advent is the first step towards regaining the reason believers celebrate Christmas: worship of Jesus Christ. You are invited to back away from the edge of Christmas season sanity and begin a four-week journey of reading, reflection, prayer, journaling, singing and serving that will give you the merriest Christmas of all.

Available in print ($10.00 includes shipping) and e-book ($5.00 pdf download) formats. Click this link to begin placing your order:

http://www.dennybates.com/Home/Advent.html

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