Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #31 (Worship). August 25, 2012

Hello my dear friends! Back to you again after spending last weekend in West Palm Beach, Florida with the John Maxwell Team. I learned a lot and experienced a lot along with 500 other friends from around the world. My experience reminded me again of how wide and broad is the family of God. Many stories to share with you one day of some of the great truths I learned.

Today's Psalms of Discipleship is a great reminder of how awesome our Lord really is. The challenge for us is quite simple: do we live like He is awesome and do others around us know how we feel about our great God?

Amazed by His awesome strength, majesty, and power.

Denny Bates

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #31

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

Key Scripture: 34 Ascribe strength to God; His majesty is over Israel And His strength is in the skies. 35 O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary. The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God! Psalm 68:34-35

Core Value: Worship

When was the last time you bragged on God? I mean, when have you told someone who God is and how much He has done for you? Lets frame the question with even more precision: how large is your view of God? Is He greater than your circumstances? Is He bigger than your wildest dreams? Is He God in your box or is He majestic and awesome and doing great things in your life?

Want to have a greater view of a great God? Worship Him greatly by focusing upon His character and power.

Principle #31 & Personal Application: Quality disciples focus their worship upon the majestic character of God.

• We worship God by ascribing (to give) strength to Him. [The NLT reads, “tell everyone about God’s power.”]: Ascribe strength to God; His majesty is over Israel And His strength is in the skies.

• We worship God by declaring His awesomeness: O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary.

• We worship God by thanking Him for the strength and power He gives to His people: The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God!

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

Do I tell others about God’s strength or power? How would my Christian walk be impacted if I made it a habit to live in God’s power and not in mine?

When am I most likely to be reminded of God’s awesomeness?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, by faith I ascribe, I give strength to you, I desire to tell everyone about Your power. I declare how awesome You are from Your sanctuary. I worship You and thank You for granting me Your strength and power as I live my life for You and for Your glory.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2012 All rights reserved.

http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/dennybates
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #30 (Grace). August 11, 2012

Hello my dear friends! Sometimes it may feel that the weight of the world is preparing to crash down upon us at any time. Perhaps you have experienced the weight of a thought (a memory) that has created a burden which has become hard to bear. Or the weight of your burden may be a physical one, like poor health or trying to prevent a career from reeling into disaster.

Whatever your burden may be, the Psalmist had one too. And he knew what to do with it. He remembered where to take it and he gave it to the Lord. This is what grace does for us: it reminds us that we do not have to carry our burdens alone, anymore.

Casting my cares upon Him,

Denny



Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #30

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

Key Scripture: Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Selah. Psalm 68:19

Core Value: Grace

How heavy is your load? Are you concerned about the quality of your health? Are you burdened over a relationship that has become frayed? Are you worried about your daily needs? Are you carrying all of these weighty concerns alone? Grace does not make any of our problems go away. But grace does give us the capacity to pass on the heavy lifting to the One who not only lifts us up, but also gives us the hope and strength we need to take the next steps on our journey of faith.

What do you need grace to do for you today?

Principle #30 & Personal Application: Quality disciples are sustained by the Savior who bears their burden everyday.

• It is because of grace that we can bless the Lord

• It is because of grace that our burden is carried by the Lord everyday

• It is because of grace that we can be saved by the God who is our salvation

It is because of grace that we can fully appreciate the testimony of the prophet Isaiah:

1 Then you will say on that day, "I will give thanks to You, O LORD; For although You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, And You comfort me. 2 "Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation." 3 Therefore you will joyously draw water From the springs of salvation. 4 And in that day you will say, "Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted." 5 Praise the LORD in song, for He has done excellent things; Let this be known throughout the earth. 6 Cry aloud and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 12:1-6 (NASB95)

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When grace fills my heart (knowing that I am getting something I do not deserve) in what way can I show my appreciation to the Lord?

What are some of my “daily burdens” that I need to lay at the feet of Jesus?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I am so grateful for grace. It is because of Your grace that I can bless Your holy name. It is because of grace that I lay down my daily burdens and give them to You. It is because of grace that I have been saved by the God of my salvation.


The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2012 All rights reserved.

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

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Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #29 (Grace). August 4, 2012

Hello my dear friends! In today's Psalms of Discipleship, for the disciple of Jesus, we are going to take a close look at how grace becomes the catalyst to worship. Once we become aware of how FREE His love is, our hearts can do nothing else but praise Him.

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #29

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

Key Scripture: 5 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. 6 The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us. 7 God blesses us, That all the ends of the earth may fear Him. Psalm 67:5-7

Core Value: Grace

We live in a culture were we are taught to be “self-made” men or women. There is an ounce of truth in that when we exhibit the necessary discipline of hard work, we may experience success in business and ministry. But for the disciple of Jesus, the greater truth is that, because of His grace, we will experience His blessing. And once we recognize that all blessing comes from the Lord, it becomes natural to do what He has created us to do: praise Him.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him, above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost

Principle #29 & Personal Application: Quality disciples experience the blessing of God so that others may be blessed too.

• Because of grace, we can offer praise to the Lord: “Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You.”

• Because of grace, we are the recipients of God’s gracious provision: “The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us.”

• Because of grace, we become the visible example of God’s witness to the world: “God blesses us, That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.”

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

How does living a “grace-driven” life impact the way I seek to live my life for the Lord?

In what ways can I testify of how God blesses me?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You that I can join with a host of other believers in praise to You. Because of grace, I can receive Your gracious provision of everything that I need to live. May I always be a faithful witness so that others may see Your grace at work in me. May Your grace, at work in my life, draw them closer 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 © 2012 All rights reserved.

http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/dennybates
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/