Tag Archive | worship

Devoted to Prayer

Nov4

These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. — Acts 1:14

Jesus had just ascended to heaven. The disciples and women who followed Jesus met together to pray. Not just a quick prayer meeting but they devoted themselves to prayer. Devote: to concentrate, to dedicate. Their Master, their Hope had left them after He changed their lives.

Have you been there? Feeling hopeless as if Jesus was no longer in your life? You don’t see His hand at work or feel His presence? Every life endeavor seems more than you can handle? The joy and hope has been sucked from you, leaving you dry? When was the last time you had a heart to heart with Jesus? The last time you bowed down before Him and worshiped Him with no inhibitions, no agenda, just genuine, devoted prayer with the God of the universe?

The participants in this verse devoted themselves to prayer as a group. How often do you attend corporate prayer meetings? “These all with one mind” focused on Jesus brought them together to pray. I believe a church, family, group that prays together will be of like mind. There is only one Holy Spirit and prayer unites those who pray together. If more congregations devoted themselves to prayer there would be less disgruntled people in church. They would be of like mind.

Not only does prayer bring unity but it brings power to accomplish God’s plan for the church, the family, the individual, the group that gathers for God’s purpose. Without prayer our endeavors are weak and many times wasted. We need to go back to the basics of humble prayer and see the power that is there as Jesus answers those prayers.

Are you or will you become devoted?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Times and Epochs

Nov3

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” — Acts 1:7-8

Why are we so concerned with the when of God’s plan instead of just trusting that He has that under control? All we need to be concerned with is walking with Jesus and telling of our experiences on that journey. A deep walk (prayer, Bible study, worship, praise, thankfulness) brings open eyes to the Holy Spirit’s work. We then can tell what we have seen through the power of the Holy Spirit.

So let us focus on Jesus and let the when happen by God’s authority.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Reason to Worship

Nov2

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. — Psalm 103:11-12

IF you need a reason to worship today, this is as good a reason as any.

Thank you Lord for your love and forgiveness. Abounding, sufficient, abundant, bounteous, overflowing, plentiful, huge, generous, exuberant and never ending. You are worthy!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Psalm, Hymns and Thanks

Oct26

speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; — Ephesians 5:19-20

Today is the perfect opportunity to do this. Hope you have the chance to worship God with others in unity to the praise and glory of our Lord.

God bless your Sabbath day.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Let’s Worship

Oct25

Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. — Psalm 95:6

Yes, let us. He deserves our worship and praise but do we earnestly practice and seek Him in worship with our whole heart, our whole being, in spirit and truth?

I am guilty and ashamed to admit that I neglect the worship of the Lord as He deserves.

Join me as we put into daily practice prayer, seeking, and worship of our Mighty God continually!!!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Grace Be Yours

Sep21

Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. — Ephesians 6:24

Hope your Sunday is filled with worship of our Lord Jesus Christ expressing your incorruptible love for Him. Grace be yours.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Worship and Praise

Sep14

“All the earth will worship You, And will sing praises to You; They will sing praises to Your name.” Selah. — Psalm 66:4

Do you ever think on Sunday morning, as you are worshiping the Lord in hymns, about others gathered together worshiping the Lord God?

I imagine all the churches of the world gathered in one accord giving praises to Almighty God. I know with time zones that this image is not reality but I so look forward to that day when it will be reality — all nations bowed in worship to the Sovereign One.

I wonder what God sees on Sunday mornings as the sun moves from east to west and people are getting ready to go to a gathering place for worship. Does He see a continual 24 hour worship? Is He pleased by what He sees and hears on His Sabbath day? Does He see an eagerness amongst His people to bring offerings of praise and worship to His house? I wonder.

How will your worship be different and will it be pleasing to the Lord today? Draw near to Him and give yourself in worship today.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Return to Worship

Aug3

This is a devotion written September 16, 2008 (long before I had a website). Still believe it is pertinent.

2 Chronicles 29:5-6, 10-11, 15-16, 18, 29-30, 35b

5 Then he said to them, “Listen to me, O Levites. Consecrate yourselves now, and consecrate the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and carry the uncleanness out from the holy place. 6 “For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done evil in the sight of the Lord our God, and have forsaken Him and turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord, and have turned their backs.

10 “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His burning anger may turn away from us. 11 “My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to minister to Him, and to be His ministers and burn incense.”

15 They assembled their brothers, consecrated themselves, and went in to cleanse the house of the Lord, according to the commandment of the king by the words of the Lord.
16 So the priests went in to the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and every unclean thing which they found in the temple of the Lord they brought out to the court of the house of the Lord…

18 Then they went in to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed the whole house of the Lord,…

29 Now at the completion of the burnt offerings, the king and all who were present with him bowed down and worshiped. 30 Moreover, King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with joy, and bowed down and worshiped.

35 … Thus the service of the house of the Lord was established again.

I wanted to put the whole chapter but had to pick and choose. It spoke to me of our churches today and of our own temple. Repentance, cleansing, praises, humbleness and worship. True, pure, clean worship. I believe we are so lacking. Pray for our churches today. Pray for revival. Pray for a return to purity, cleanliness, a humbleness in worship, a true reverent worship of the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God Almighty.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

What A Day That Will Be

Jul28

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. — 1 John 3:2

I’m out visiting a friend and her Pastor husband in Illinois this weekend and had the privilege to worship with them yesterday morning and evening. In the morning service Pastor Alan asked the congregation, “Who wants to go to heaven?” Surprisingly, at least to me, was how abnormally quiet it was. Finally someone yelled out “I do, but not yet”. Alan spoke my sentiments when he said that he was ready even if it was today.

I can only imagine what a glorious day that will be when we see Jesus just as He is. I’m anticipating it to be spectacular, wonderful, surpassing all I could possibly imagine. We sang the following hymn also:

What A Day That Will Be

There is coming a day when no heartaches shall come
No more clouds in the sky, no more tears to dim the eye
All is peace forevermore on that happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

Chorus:
What a day that will be
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

There’ll be no sorrow there, no more burdens to bear,
No more sickness, no pain, no more parting over there;
And forever I will be with the One who died for me,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

Chorus:
What a day that will be
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be
What a day, glorious day that will be.

Are you secure in your everlasting destination? Are you anticipating seeing Jesus face to face? Seek Him while He may be found so you may know what a day that will be!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

The lyrics and music to the Gospel song, “What A Day That Will Be” is by Jim Hill.

Worship In Holy Array

Jul27

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him; Worship the Lord in holy array. — 1 Chronicles 16:29/Psalm 29:2

What do you bring to the Lord on Sunday (or your day of congregational worship)? Is your offering of worship an offering of praise? A fruitful offering?

God wants us to worship in holy array. Is “holy array” your physical appearance or is it a heart ready to worship in spirit and truth? Is your offering a fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?*

God does not see as man sees for God looks at the heart, a heart that has been circumcised. You can come to church all dressed up and looking good but what does your heart look like? Put aside the flesh and worship as you have never worshiped before. Worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus. Totally surrender to the Spirit of truth with a heart full of the fruit of the Spirit.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

 

But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. — Leviticus 19:24

*Galatians 5:22-23

for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, — Philippians 3:3

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7

God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” — John 4:24