Sing for joy, O heavens!
Rejoice, O earth!
Burst into song, O mountains!
For the Lord has comforted his people
and will have compassion on them in their suffering.
(Isaiah 49:13 NLT)

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they (we) have no excuse for not knowing (worshiping) God. (Romans 1:20 NLT)

For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind,
and declares to man what is his thought,
who makes the morning darkness,
and treads on the heights of the earth
— the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name!
(Amos 4:13 ESV)

(Be sure to read future posts that will discuss worshiping God.)

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Recently I was kayaking through some tidal marshland in southern Georgia. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, of Fiddler crabs were scampering around in the mud.  Larger crabs, turtles, and fish were swimming in the water. Numerous oyster beds were scattered throughout the marshes. Tiny snails were seen clinging to the marsh grass. I observed different species of birds. Dragonflies were darting back and forth.  The list of living organisms could go on and on.

As I was paddling through the marshland, I realized that this was becoming a genuine and meaningful worship experience for me.

Godly worship is a 24/7 lifestyle of both knowing God and responding to Him.

I was reminded of the fact that there is a sovereign God.  I knew that this marshland was part of His creation. Dragonflies, one small part of God’s creation, are amazing.    Scientists tell us that the head of a dragonfly has two large compound eyes.  Each eye has as many as 30,000 lenses. A dragonfly has nearly 360 degree vision.  A dragonfly has a wider spectrum of color than humans.  Wow!  God’s creation is awesome.

My response:

“You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
(Revelation 4:11 NLT)

Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.”  So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.  (Genesis 1:20-21 NLT)

(Be sure to read future posts that will discuss worshiping God.)

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Scripture clearly teaches that the worship of God needs to be a priority in the life of every Christian.  We were created to worship.  If we choose not to worship God, we are not living the life God created us to live.  We have no excuses for not worshiping God.

We have no excuses for not worshiping God.

 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.   

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.  (Romans 1:20-21 NLT)

The heavens declare the glory of the Lord

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.  (Psalm 19:1-2 NLT)

All of God’s creation has been instructed to worship God.

Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! 
Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!
Let the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he is coming! …  (Psalm 96:11-13 NLT)

Praise the Lord! 
Praise the Lord from the heavens!
Praise him from the skies!
Praise him, all his angels!
Praise him, all the armies of heaven!
Praise him, sun and moon!
Praise him, all you twinkling stars!
Praise him, skies above!
Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!
Let every created thing give praise to the Lord,
for he issued his command, and they came into being. …
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you creatures of the ocean depths,
fire and hail, snow and clouds,
wind and weather that obey him,
mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all livestock,
small scurrying animals and birds, …
Let them all praise the name of the Lord.
For his name is very great;
his glory towers over the earth and heaven! (Psalm 148:1-13 NLT)

Even if we don’t worship God, His creation will worship Him.

The rocks will recognize God for who He is.

He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”  (Luke 19:40 NLT)

Conclusion:

You were created to worship God.  If you want to live a fulfilled and joyful life, develop a lifestyle of worshiping God 24/7.  You have no excuse not to do so!

(Be sure to read future posts that will discuss worshiping God.)

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,  so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 ESV)

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Scripture clearly teaches that the worship of God needs to be a priority in the life of every Christian.  Godly worship is a 24/7 lifestyle that can be manifested in various ways.

What happens when worshiping God becomes a daily routine in our lives?

Worshiping God enriches our lives in many ways.

Worshiping God helps us experience a closer relationship with Him.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. … (James 4:8 ESV)

But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29 ESV)

Worshiping God helps our prayer life to mature. (Prayer is a part of worship)

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (1 John 5:14 ESV)

Worshiping God helps us experience more of His blessings. (Giving is a part of worship)

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” (2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT)

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (Malachi 3:10 ESV)

Worshiping God helps us delight in Scripture.

 I will delight in your decrees
and not forget your word. 
Your laws please me;
they give me wise advice.
How I delight in your commands!
How I love them!
Your laws are my treasure;
they are my heart’s delight.
Psalm 119:16, 24, 47, 111

 Worshiping God brings us joy.

 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, …
You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me!
I sing for joy because of what you have done.O 
O Lord, what great works you do! …                        
Psalm 92:1-5

 Worshiping God (focusing on Jesus) energizes us.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, … (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)

What happens when worshiping God becomes a daily routine in our lives?

Worshiping God helps us experience a closer relationship with Him.

Worshiping God helps our prayer life to mature.

Worshiping God helps us experience more of His blessings.

Worshiping God helps us delight in Scripture.

Worshiping God brings us joy.

Worshiping God (focusing on Jesus) energizes us.

(Be sure to read future posts that will discuss worshiping God.)

 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11 ESV)

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Scripture clearly teaches that the worship of God needs to be a priority in the life of every Christian.  Godly worship is a 24/7 lifestyle that can be manifested in various ways.

When is the best time to worship God?

Scripture tells us to worship:

Always

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (Philippians 4:4 ESV)

… giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Ephesians 5:20 ESV)

Without ceasing

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 ESV)

All day long

That is why I can never stop praising you;
I declare your glory all day long.  (Psalm 71:8 NLT)

Constantly

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, (1 Thessalonians 1:2 ESV)

Forever

For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.  (Romans 11:36 NLT))

When you are at home,

when you are on the road,

when you are going to bed,

and when you are getting up.

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.  And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. (Deuteronomy 6:5-7 NLT)

Worship “always”.

Worship “without ceasing”.

Worship “all day long”.

Worship “constantly”.

Worship “forever”.

Worship “when you are at home”.

Worship “when you are on the road”.

Worship “when you are going to bed”.

Worship “when you are getting up”.

Godly worship is a 24/7 lifestyle.

Worship God always.

(Be sure to read future posts that will discuss worshiping God.)

 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11 ESV)

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Scripture clearly teaches that the worship of God needs to be a priority in the life of every Christian.  Godly worship is a 24/7 lifestyle that can be manifested in various ways.

Much of the worship we read about in the Bible is very “high energy”.

Worshipers were told to clap their hands and shout to God.

Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! (Psalm 47:1 ESV)

Worship was meant to be joyful.

Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (Psalm 32:11 ESV)

Worship frequently included dancing and the use of musical instruments.

Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! (Psalm 149:3 ESV)

Worship often included loud music.

Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!  Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!   Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! (Psalm 150:3-5 ESV)

Worship described in the Bible:

• Worshipers were told to clap their hands and shout to God.
• Worship was meant to be joyful.
• Worship included dancing and the use of musical instruments.
• Worship included loud music.

Conclusion:

It might be o.k. for some of us to put a little more energy into our worship.

 (This applies to me. It may or may not apply to you.)

Note: To be authentic, any form of worship should come from the heart and soul.

… what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, (Deuteronomy 10:12 ESV)

With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to your name forever,  (Psalm 86:12 NLT)

 (Be sure to read future posts that will discuss worshiping God.)

… “You shall love the Lord your God
 with all your heart
and
with all your soul
and
with all your strength
and
with all your mind…”
(Luke 10:27 ESV)

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Remember

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for everyone who has died serving in the American armed forces.

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  (John 15:13 NLT)

Today and throughout the year we ought to remember those who placed themselves in harm’s way to protect our freedom.

Remember

Today and throughout the year we should also remember someone else who died for us.

Jesus Christ died for us so that we could have a rich and satisfying life.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.  (John 10:10 NLT)

Jesus Christ died for us to free us from the grasp of sin and allow us to live for what is right.

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.  By his wounds you are healed.  Once you were like sheep who wandered away.  But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.  1 Peter 2:24- 25  (NLT)

Jesus Christ died for us so that we can spend eternity with Him in heaven.

Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.  (1 Thessalonians 5:10 NLT)

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance.

Remember Memorial Day

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Scripture clearly teaches that the worship of God needs to be a priority in the life of every Christian.  Godly worship is a 24/7 lifestyle that can be manifested in various ways.

As some of you may know, I spent many years teaching Junior High students.  Many times I would say to a student, “Your body language is saying something to me that you really should not be saying.”  Their words were fine but their “body language” was showing disrespect.

“Body language” matters.  Communication is much more than words.

What “body language” do you use in worship?

Paul instructed people to pray with lifted hands.

In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. (1 Timothy 2:8 NLT)

David prayed with lifted hands.

 I will praise you as long as I live,
    lifting up my hands to you in prayer. (Psalm 63:4 NLT)

Accept my prayer as incense offered to you,
    and my upraised hands as an evening offering.  (Psalm 141:2 NLT)

The wise men bowed down to worship Jesus.

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. ….  (Matthew 2:11 NLT)

Psalm 95:6 is an exhortation to bow down before the Lord.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! (Psalm 95:6 ESV)

Paul fell to his knees when he was praying.

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, … (Ephesians 3:14 NLT)

Jesus looked up to heaven and said a blessing.

And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. … .    (Mark 6:41 ESV)

Jesus prayed with his face to the ground.

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Matthew 26:39 NLT)

Joshua prayed with his face to the ground.

At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?”  (Joshua 5:14 NLT)

Solomon stood and lifted his hands toward heaven.

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire community of Israel. He lifted his hands toward heaven, (1 Kings 8:22 NLT)

Various positions are appropriate in worship.

Lifted hands

Bowed down

Kneeling

Looking upward

Face to the ground

Standing

Sitting

More important than the physical position is the message your “body language” is communicating.   Does your “body language” communicate submission, respect, humility, reverence and obedience

or

does your body language communicate showmanship and pride?

Remember, “body language” is an outward expression of what is in the heart.

Standing, sitting, kneeling, lying down, looking up or looking down, hands up or hands out are all fine.  Just be sure that your “body language” is communicating what you want it to communicate…

Worshiping a Holy God.

  (Be sure to read future posts that will discuss the importance of worshiping God.)

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (Philippians 2:9-10 ESV)

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Scripture clearly teaches that the worship of God needs to be a priority in the life of every Christian.  Godly worship is a 24/7 lifestyle that can be manifested in various ways.

All throughout scripture singing was a form of worship.

Moses and the people of Israel sang to the Lord.

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, “I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. ….  (Exodus 15:1-18 ESV)

Miriam (the sister of Moses and Aaron) sang.

And Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.” (Exodus 15:21 ESV)

Deborah and Barak sang to the Lord.

“Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; to the LORD I will sing; I will make melody to the LORD, the God of Israel. (Judges 5:3 ESV)

David sang to the Lord.

David sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul.   He sang:
        “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
          my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.  … (2 Samuel 22:1-51 NLT)

The temple had singers.

Now these, the singers, the heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites, were in the chambers of the temple free from other service, for they were on duty day and night. (1 Chronicles 9:33 ESV)

The army of Judah had singers.

And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 20:21 ESV)

The Angels sang.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14 ESV)

Mary sang.  (The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise)

 Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. …” Luke 1:46-55

The Disciples sang.

And when they (the disciples) had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Mark 14:26 ESV)

Paul and Silas sang.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, (Acts 16:25 ESV)

The scriptures list many others who worshiped God with songs.

All throughout scripture singing was a form of worship.

– Moses and the people of Israel sang to the Lord.

– Miriam (the sister of Moses and Aaron) sang.

– Deborah and Barak sang to the Lord.

– David sang to the Lord.

– The temple had singers.

– The army of Judah had singers.

– The Angels sang.

– Mary sang.  (The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise)

– The Disciples sang.

– Paul and Silas sang.

– The scriptures list many others who worshiped God with songs.

Conclusion:  We can all worship God by singing.

Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! (1 Chronicles 16:9 ESV)

Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. (Psalm 30:4 ESV)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16 ESV)

Challenge:  When you are “singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs”,  allow yourself to transition from simply singing a song into worshiping a Holy God.

Worship, don’t just sing.

(Be sure to read future posts that will discuss the importance of worshiping God.)

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.      (Psalm 104:33 ESV)

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