Today's devotion was written by Mary Davis, a woman in my church that is very gifted with words, both spoken and written. She is a woman after God's own heart!
"The Lord has sought a woman after His own heart." I Samuel 13:14
He was imperfect, made mistakes, sinned, and yet, David was a "man after God's own heart."
Perfection can be strived for, mistakes can be lessons learned, sin can be forgiven, but failing to seek after God's heart is to forfeit a relationship with Him. What a great lost!
Jesus said, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind" (whole self). "This is the first and greatest commandment." The second is equally important "love your neighbor as yourself. All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." These passages of scripture are the very heart of God, and are the gateway to becoming a woman after God's own heart.
Heavenly Father, we pray for divine wisdom to guide us each and every day. Help us as we make every effort to be known as women after Your own heart, collectly and individually. As we strive to perfect areas we lack in, we will draw from Your strength and grace, knowing this will sustain us as we make every attempt to achieve higher standards that exemplify Your perfection. Thank you Father, amen.
Submitted by Mary Davis
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Freedom to Worship
My family and I have just returned from a mission’s trip to Romania. The ministry was wonderful with 17 people saved, 1 person baptized and hundreds of people came up for prayer. We also had the opportunity to minister to the youth of a local church on several occasions.
Romania was under Communism until 1989. Most of the older people still look as if they are still under that rule. They do not smile much at all and don’t appear to have much joy. It is the same with their worship. There is not a freedom there to worship like we have in America. On Sunday during our worship, I began thinking about the worship in Romania and the worship we have here. We have the freedom to express our worship in any way. Some people jump. Some people wave banners. Some people shout. Those are all expressions of worship to the King of all Kings.
So why do we choose to do absolutely nothing to express our worship to our God? Our God who is above all gods! Our God who there is none like! The Creator of heaven and earth! The Almighty God!
While in Romania, we could not express our worship. We followed their culture. On Sunday back at home, I made sure that I expressed my worship to my God. Now, I haven’t always done that. I allowed “stuff” to come between me expressing worship. This particular Sunday, I did not want to sit silently while the opportunity to worship in freedom was going on around me. And while I began to worship, the presence of God filled the place and I was mightily touched by God. If I had not started worshipping, I would have missed this special moment, this moment that really ministered to me in so many ways.
I ask you - what are you doing with the opportunities to worship? Are you sitting silently by waiting for it to be over? Or are you taking advantage of your freedom to worship – whatever way that may be?
I was reminded of the story of Joshua and the wall of Jericho. The people were instructed to silently march around the wall for six days. They could not speak at all. On the seventh day they were to shout. Imagine if you had to be silent. You could not make a sound at all. Then when you could speak, would you be excited after having been silent?
Let me encourage you to take advantage of the freedom you have to worship. You don’t have to worship a particular way. Just worship. You will receive so much when you do!
Blessings,
Donna
Romania was under Communism until 1989. Most of the older people still look as if they are still under that rule. They do not smile much at all and don’t appear to have much joy. It is the same with their worship. There is not a freedom there to worship like we have in America. On Sunday during our worship, I began thinking about the worship in Romania and the worship we have here. We have the freedom to express our worship in any way. Some people jump. Some people wave banners. Some people shout. Those are all expressions of worship to the King of all Kings.
So why do we choose to do absolutely nothing to express our worship to our God? Our God who is above all gods! Our God who there is none like! The Creator of heaven and earth! The Almighty God!
While in Romania, we could not express our worship. We followed their culture. On Sunday back at home, I made sure that I expressed my worship to my God. Now, I haven’t always done that. I allowed “stuff” to come between me expressing worship. This particular Sunday, I did not want to sit silently while the opportunity to worship in freedom was going on around me. And while I began to worship, the presence of God filled the place and I was mightily touched by God. If I had not started worshipping, I would have missed this special moment, this moment that really ministered to me in so many ways.
I ask you - what are you doing with the opportunities to worship? Are you sitting silently by waiting for it to be over? Or are you taking advantage of your freedom to worship – whatever way that may be?
I was reminded of the story of Joshua and the wall of Jericho. The people were instructed to silently march around the wall for six days. They could not speak at all. On the seventh day they were to shout. Imagine if you had to be silent. You could not make a sound at all. Then when you could speak, would you be excited after having been silent?
Let me encourage you to take advantage of the freedom you have to worship. You don’t have to worship a particular way. Just worship. You will receive so much when you do!
Blessings,
Donna
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
