Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.
PSALM 100:4 Have you ever had a co-worker or classmate who comes in to start the class or day complaining? Maybe the only thing worse than that is a person who comes to you not complaining, but asking. Before hello (or right after). Before asking how you are doing. Before really connecting or acknowledging you, they are coming in whining or wanting! Ugh, I know that last sentence is spicy, but let the burn clear your sinuses and breath. Would we be better off going into the presence of God with thanks or thoughts? The answer is both. In fact, He wants them both because He wants us! [1 PETER 5:7 KJV] 7 Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. [PSALM 55:22 KJV] 22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. So let's rephrase. Would we be better off going into the presence of God with thanks before our thoughts? Now remember, come as you are means come as you are... [MATTHEW 11:28 KJV] 28 Come unto Me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [JOHN 6:37 KJV] 37 All that the Father giveth Me shall come to me; and Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. But I am learning that beginning my conversations with my Heavenly Father with thanks, literally shapes my thoughts throughout my conversation! Going into prayer with thanks is not a password to divinity. Thanksgiving is not an oil to loosen the bolts of Heaven to pour out a blessing. That's Jesus' job! Going to the Father in Jesus' name, per His instructions, is what authorizes us to step boldly into prayer... [MATTHEW 6:9 KJV] 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. [HEBREWS 4:16 KJV] 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. That's the what of prayer, but how we come into prayer, that's on us. In whatever state we find ourselves, Heaven's door is always open because God's ear is always open! But what David is counseling and what I am discovering , is that the attitude or focus I have when I come into talking with God makes a big difference in our conversation. It does not change God, but it changes me. When I go in saying, "Father, thank you for...", it levels the conversation. It puts Him up, but it doesn't bring me down. Rather, it puts Him up and brings me in. If I am truly thankful, it draws me closer to Him. On the other hand, going in complaining or wanting puts Him up, but it brings me down. By starting the conversation focusing on what I want, it's like I am simply reminding myself of what I don't have or what I am not. So rather than praying, I am actually just projecting. And by projecting my circumstance, I actually bring God down (in my mind) to my level. As a result, I end up thinking He hears me, but what can He do? Or worse, I start thinking, He's listening, but He doesn't care. At this point, if you have no idea what I'm talking about...carry on soldier. But if you do, might I suggest thanks, before thoughts. Our thanks muscles can get pretty flabby in the world we live in today. So here is a exercise that has really toned my thanks and is actually making it both stronger and natural. There is a movie series that our family watched many years ago and has become one of our favorites. In part 2 of the 3-part series, The Ultimate Life, there is a scene where the main character hops on a train car to get to Texas and find his fortune. A homeless hobo helps him get on as he is being chased by the railroad employees trying to stop him. When he wakes up in the morning, the hobo is standing at the door of the car writing in the air. He asks the hobo what he is doing and he tells him he is writing his Golden List. His mother raised him and told him that everyday, no matter what or where we find ourselves, there are at least ten things for which we should be thankful to God. The main character, who went on to become a...(well, I won't spoil it for you), was so impacted by that, he remembered that as one of the simple keys to living the ultimate life - giving thanks! Now that's what I try to do. In my journal or on my phone, right after I say hello, I say hallelujah. Writing those ten things. Sometimes, searching for those ten things because my mind is so preoccupied. Whether it's places, people. purchases, prayers answered, or problems solved, when it's acknowledged as a gift from God, it changes how we see Him, and talk to Him because... Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. JAMES 1:17
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It's important to come to the distinction that worship is different from work; otherwise, you can't come to the conviction that worship is more important than work.
Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? PSALM 139:7 It is clear from this verse that the Spirit of the LORD is the presence of the LORD! As such, there is nowhere we can go and He not be present. However, what we do in His presence is up to us. Whether we worship or we work. I remember going to college and being at an Adventist Christian university. And religion major or not, we all had Bible classes. I remember asking myself the question and debating it with others - can we study for a Bible test on Sabbath? The thought really goes beyond Sabbath-keeping but really to the heart of what one understands to be worship. In time I have come to realize that the seams of the fabric of worship are more defined when contrasted to the pattern of work. Without this contrast, not only can we not solve my freshman Bible class conundrum, but it is very easy to slip into the norm of putting work before worship. Trust me, I've been there. So maybe we can get this by asking another question - can my work be worship? Absolutely...and it should be! [1 CORINTHIANS 10:31 KJV] 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. [COLOSSIANS 3:17 KJV] 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. [COLOSSIANS 3:23 KJV] 23 And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Ok, gottit. But how about this, can my worship be my work? Yes...but it shouldn't be. As a minister in a self-supporting ministry, it's hard sometimes. For all of us reading, but particularly in ministry, work can be falsely sanctified by being self-sanctified as worship. In other words, because what I am doing is for the sake of the Gospel or for God, I decree that God should accept it as my act of worship. Writing a thought, running a soup kitchen, lesson planning for class, it's my work, but my worship to Him too. [PSALM 86:9 KJV] 9 All nations Whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; and shall glorify Thy name. [DEUTERONOMY 26:10 KJV] 10 And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which Thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God: Verses like these speak to not just location but intent, purpose, and focus While we can worship God in our work, we are not working in our worship to Him. It is an altogether separate and sacred experience for Him as He receives our acts of worship by our attention and intention. The act and experience of true worship transcends labor and resonates only on the frequency of love. Think of it this way. As a married man, can I love my wife, Tara, while I do my work? Absolutely and I do! But can I love my wife AND do my work? Nope. Try writing a blog post while having quiet time with your spouse! Try framing a door while spending cuddly, wuddly time with your sweetheart! I can think about her while I'm making that door or even make the door for her, but when it's her time, her moment, the only focus that will satisfy is first focus; total focus. It's why Jesus said... [MATTHEW 6:33 KJV] 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. True worshipers get this. They prioritize, and not settle to synchronize, their time with God. His Word has told me and my own wife has taught me, put God first by putting God alone. We will have to worry less about fitting God in when we commit to finding Him alone. If I failed to make it clear (and that's sincerely possible), let Mary and Martha help us out... [LUKE 10:38-39 KJV] 38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that [Jesus] entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word. Two women. Both in His presence... 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to [Jesus], and said, Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. [LUKE 10:40 KJV] Two women. Both in His presence...but one working, and another worshiping. [Luke 10:41-42 KJV] 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Choose the good part, first. Let's worship before we work, so that while we work, we will worship! |
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May 2024
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