Recently, Rory Noland author of “Worship On Earth As It Is In Heaven” has challenged me to examine my “private” or “personal” time of worship with God. In order for us to be strong worshipers, corporately, we must first be strong in our “private” or “personal” worship. The Bible tells us that David was a man after God’s own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22) He was a Sheppard boy, musician, warrior, king, husband, and father. David is a great example of a worshiper; he not only was strong in his personal worship, but strong and very expressive in corporate worship (Psalm 26:6-7). From alone time in pastures and caves, to leading the procession of the Ark of the Covenant, to his times of obedience to God. Even in times of great regret, David worshiped the Lord (Psalm 51:1-2). David, much like you and I, was flawed due to fall of man in the garden. David struggled with sexual sin, committed murder, and he wasn’t exactly “Father of the Year” (1 Sam 13:21 & 14:24). But through all of his shortcomings, he still continually worshiped the Lord. David demonstrated his faith steadfastly on a daily basis, which pleased the Lord. Another important character trait that David exhibited was that he had the attitude of gratitude and was very thankful for his life and all God had given him.
Lets challenge each other to not be consumed by what the world offers. Rather be consumed by God’s richness, worshiping the Father “privately”. Getting alone with God and seeking out the intimate time of worship that God desires us to have with him and what our spirit and soul long for. Then we can corporately come together and worship God in spirit and truth for the all world to see and hear.
My personal times in the Word have been in the book of Isaiah. I am reading through the Word chronologically at this point- it's taken me several years to get to this point as I'm attempting to soak it in as I go. The past couple days, this verse has stayed with me:
ReplyDelete"And the LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the LORD, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them." ~Isaiah 19:22
In other places in the Word, we are told that God disciplines those whom he loves (Heb. 12:6), but in the passage in Isaiah, it's a slightly different nuance. Egypt was not His chosen people. But we see God express His wrath only to turn and heal (like the passage in Hebrews says). Apparently, Judah had turned to Egypt for help to escape the Assyrians. But as we all know, God will not accept any replacement for Him in our lives. So His discipline ensued.
I am so thankful that even in His anger toward our pride and sin, God still loves us, and His heart is for us to be reconciled to Him!
As I type, I am listening to some of our new upcoming songs and am so pumped! I can't wait to get lost in a time of personal worship as I pound out the key parts! :0)
I spend time in the Word daily but making time to worship Him in song or cry out to Him or just to sit and bask in His presence is another thing. And when I do make that time to just "be" with Him, my life is different...my heart is different.
ReplyDeleteHaving recently been in Rwanda I was blessed to meet a people who have faced true horror and evil in their lives and yet can worship with all that they are. Their worship is simple and pure, yet passionate beyond words.
Jesus is everything to them. They may have lost their mother, father, son and daughter, husband or wife. They could be facing a life maimed or dealing with HIV, yet the joy as they worship God is overwhelming.
I was very convicted there that I have allowed the cares and business of this world to distract my personal worship time with Jesus. I have forgotten how much He loves me and so end up trying to care for myself instead of allowing Him that place in my life.
This morning in my worship time with God He has reminded me that for so long I have held on to all that I am...when all He wants is for me to place it in His hands...and He is giving me another chance to place it there.
I have walked with God for some time now and He has changed my heart in so many ways and I thought that I had given Him all, and so it saddens me that there are still areas that I hold on to and choose my desires and plans over His. I am grateful beyond words that He works on me a layer at a time and is faithful even when I am not and loose sight of Him.
My prayer is this:
"Let me be in love with what You love. Let me be most satisfied in You, forsaking what this world has offered me...I choose to be in love with You, Lord. I want Jesus to be EVERYTHING to me."
I was just thinking that in the last month or so I've had awesome time in the Word but it felt like my relationship with Christ was really suffering. It just hit me recently that just busting through books of the Bible (for class) was leaving me feeling like something was lacking. What I was doing was neglecting my time in prayer thinking that having knowledge of the Word would suffice. Pretty big error; it would be like if I just knew about my wife and her character but didn't actually talk to her. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 reminds me that I need to "pray without ceasing". It's often easy to build up head knowledge but not apply that same knowledge to active worship of our Lord.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the blog and the reminder about setting aside private time in worship!
A lot of people tend to look at worship as worship almost to the sense of I show up on Sunday, sing, raise my arm, and call it a day. This is the same as showing up to church, sitting in back, being the last one in and the first one out. Growing in my walk with Christ and learning what true worship is, I engage in worship out side of worship practice and worship service. I find myself engaging in private worship a lot through music. I have seen God work in my life and eliminate a lot of negative music I have listened, thank God for this because, it was not easy. I listen to a lot of Christian music now, most of it heavier and not mainstream but nonetheless, the message of God's grace and love for us is a clear message as well as challenging the listener to examine their life and live a life more like Christ as we are directed to strive to be like Christ. I have been using my time walking my dog at night usually about 10pm or so to listen to my Ipod and reflect on my day, my life, and what I am thankful for and how God has shown up in my life and the awesome changes that he has brought upon me. I also take that time to put situations or issues before him and seek his guidance. I know you may think, how do you do this while walking your dog? I find it relaxing and awesome to be outside in God's world that he created and to give glory to him. There are times where I am so engaged with God, that I extend my walk normally longer than I would ever care to, but there are times where I do not want my time with him to end. I have been listening to a lot of spoken word albums by Mattie Montgomery who is the singer of a band called For Today. The albums consist of bold preaching as well as tracks of prayer. I feel like I am rambling but I do feel that private worship does indeed lead to stronger corporate worship and if you do not know how to private worship, you may not know how to be fully engaged in corporate worship. On a side note, when we are on stage for the countdown before every service a take anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 minute and thank God for the blessing he has given me as well as the opportunity to help lead corporate worship as well as laying before him any hindrances I may be experiencing. I feel that putting these things at his feet and giving thanks is a form of private worship also. I will end with one final comment. I listen to a band called THE GREAT COMMISSION and they released an album called HEAVY WORSHIP of which most of you probably wouldn't care for but one of their songs is entitled "Don't go to church, Be the church". At first, I was like WHAT!? but then after I thought about it and the message that they are sharing is that once again, don't just show up to church and go through the motions but be engaged, be ever changing, put your life before God and watch amazing things happen. Be involved in the church and make a difference in bringing the name of Christ to the local area. Same goes for worship, don't just show up to play and go home thinking nonetheless but be engaged in worship, let your leading or playing be a tool that engages God with that lost person or persons. It is so easy to get caught up in if we are playing the right notes or proper rhythmatics and lose focus of Christ and the real reason that we are on the stage. Stay Focused, Stand Firm, GOD WILL SHOW UP AND TOUCH HEARTS AS HE HAS TOUCHED MY HEART.
ReplyDeleteEver since I read Nancy Leigh DeMoss' book "A Place of Quiet Rest," I have strived to work my life around my quiet time rather than trying to fit my quiet time into my crazy schedule.
ReplyDeleteHer book did such a wonderful job describing what God desires from us which is for us to spend time with Him in prayer, reading His word, in song, etc. She also taught me with scripture, what God does for us when we spend time with Him. He nourishes us, strengthens us for what we are about to face in this dark world, teaches us His ways and truths, gives us wisdom and guidance and most importantly, we are transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ. Look at Moses, when he met with God, he came out with his face shining with glory (Exodus 34:29-30).
I am so thankful that God chose me as one of his children and has placed in my heart a hunger and a desire for Him. He's also initiated a revival within me, having me seek Him and instilling His truths and ways in me.
Came out here to read the post after doing my quiet time. God has recently helped me to get back on track on my quiet times with him. I have been focusing on 2 books one being Battlefield of the Mind and the other being Lord Where Are You When Bad Things Happen. Tonights time actually included some worship in it as the author offered the following words sung to the tune of "My Favorite Things" from the Sound Of Music:
ReplyDeleteJoy through my teardrops, and gains through my losses
Beauty for ashes, and crowns for my crosses;
He binds my wounds, and he dries all my tears
Calms every storm and He conquers my fears.
He gives me hinds' feet to walk on high places.
He floods my soul with his heavenly graces;
When I am weak then his strength makes me strong
I know I can trust him, He's never been wrong.
Trials may come and temptations assail me
Though I may falter, He never will fail me
So Satan I bind you in his holy name
For at the cross Jesus' blood overcame!
When the doubt comes, when I'm lonely
When my heart is sad;
I'll lift up my eyes to my Saviour above
And Jesus will make me glad.
When in my heart there is sadness and sorrow
Jesus has promised a brighter tomorrow;
Victory is mine, Yes, it's already won
I've only to claim it by faith in God's Son.
All of my cares I will cast down before him
Even in trials my heart will adore him;
He bears my burdens, He comforts my soul
Oh why should I worry when He's in control?
Lord in the time of deep grief and emotion
I will yet serve You with constant devotion;
You have not failed me one step of the way
That is the reason I'll trust you and say:
I will praise You! I will praise you!
Jesus Christ my King;
For You fill my heart with a song in the night
Yes, You make my heart to sing!
Amazing how God works. I did my quiet time after finding out 2 radio stations have gone all Christmas music and one of the last songs I heard was "My Favorite Things". Then with still having time I was reminded to come out here and post on Charlie's blog. Charlie thanks for another tool in improving my personal worship with God.
We as humans have an instinct in us to worship. The question is not 'if' or 'when' but rather 'what'. The object of our worship shapes our actions, words, attitudes and priorities and visa versa. If our worship is not directed toward GOD then we find other "things" to fill in that gap. Our sensory systems play a role in our directed worship. When we are at church, we see the cross, hear the words, feel the emotion and our worship is directed to HIM. If we are in a private "prayer closet" reading our Bible and/or in prayer, our senses are tuned in to HIM.
ReplyDeleteIf we were not to attend church for six months, nor read the Bible, nor pray and instead spend our time in "worldly activities" (I'll leave that definition to the reader), how would our worship be affected and eventually directed?
So what is my point? Guard your heart, put on the armour, take up your cross and pray without ceasing every day because the enemy seeks to destroy us through getting us to direct our worship to anything other then GOD.