One of the ways we worship God is by being excellent at what we do. For the pastor, that means arriving for services completely prepared and ready to give a message to the best of his ability. For those leading music, that means practicing and working hard so that the music is the best it can possibly be. But what about those who don’t serve in the ... [Continue Reading]
Learning to Worship (Psalms 96, 100-101, 105)
The Psalms have much to teach us on how to worship God more fully. Here are a few thoughts that from the readings: Worship doesn’t take place merely at church Our lives should be marked by worship – it should be part of who we are and not simply something we do We worship God because of His greatness Worship is both individual and corporate – we must learn to ... [Continue Reading]
The One Who Is Responsible (Psalms 47, 68, 89)
There is a bit of encouragement that comes when we understand that we are not ultimately responsible for the outcomes in life. In the case of David, for instance, God was His strength and shield, and He faithfully kept the covenant that He made with David. Israel’s power and status didn’t come necessarily because of its great strength as a warring nation; ... [Continue Reading]
I Shall Not Want (Psalms 1-2, 15, 22-24)
The 23rd Psalm is one that is quoted often, and many people over the centuries have appreciated David’s words. One line, in particular, struck me as I meditated over David’s words: I shall not want. From the perspective of a sheep, a shepherd provides everything that it could ever need: food, water, shelter. From a human perspective, marketers tell us ... [Continue Reading]
Unity (Psalms 133, 106-107)
Have you ever lived in a place of discord? Those homes where fighting persists and arguments are the norm are very unhappy places to be. Contrast that with a home marked by unified desire to have a loving attitude toward one another. Where would you rather live? It’s not surprising, then, that David lauded the notion of dwelling in unity with ... [Continue Reading]
All That is Within Me (Psalms 88, 92-93, 102-104)
How often, from the very depth of your being, do you bless the Lord? For too long, the Church has been made up of Sunday Christians who show up for worship services but who walk away and live godless lives from Monday to Saturday. In writing Psalm 103, David wanted to bless the Lord from the core of who he was. He wanted every piece of himself to exist ... [Continue Reading]
God’s Wish and His Will (Psalms 73, 77-78, 81)
God’s wish and His will are two very different things, and the psalmist helps bring clarity to that truth. God’s wish was that Israel would heed His voice and submit to Him as her God. However, Israel did not fulfill God’s wishes and whored herself after the gods of other nations. In choosing such a path, Israel missed the blessings of God (see my ... [Continue Reading]
On Doorholding (Psalms 49, 84-85, 87)
Back in January Kari and I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Passion Conference in Atlanta. Passion is geared toward college students, and the conference seeks to help college students grow in passion about their faith. As volunteers, we each received a t-shirt that said “doorholder” across the front. The idea of a doorholder comes from Psalm 84 ... [Continue Reading]
Inside Out (Psalms 19, 21, 43-45)
My grandmother used to have a saying that you never know what goes on behind closed doors. Though that’s somewhat of a cynical mindset, there’s also a level of truth to it. I don’t know my neighbor’s heart, but I see how she allows her dog to use my lawn as a bathroom. I don’t know your heart, but I see the way you dress, and I can make my own ... [Continue Reading]
Don’t Be a Fool (Psalms 6, 8-10, 14, 16)
A fool is one who acts unwisely or imprudently. A fool can also refer to a person who has been duped. It’s interesting to me that David said, in Psalm 14:1, that a fool is one who says in his heart that God isn’t real. I have heard a lot of people give arguments for why they believe God doesn’t exist, but none of those arguments has been compelling ... [Continue Reading]
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