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Listen while you read: "We Praise Thee O God"1 (Lyrics) |
"ALL WORSHIP CANCELLED" announced the sign in front of a church in my neighbourhood. In response to COVID-19 regulations, most churches have cancelled their Sunday services for a period of time. That's what the sign was meant to convey. But unwittingly, it seemed to carry the deeper message that worship is something that we do only on Sundays between 10 and 11, so therefore, no one can worship any more.
Dr. Tim Riordan, in Songs From the Heart (GreenTree Publishers, 2014) makes the following points:
- Worship is a verb. Worship is something we do.
- Worship is a lifestyle, not an event.
- We should wake up in the morning with "glory" on our hearts and drift off to sleep at night with "hallelujah" on our lips.
- Every day is a twenty-four-hour experience in God's school of theology as the experiences of life teach us constantly about the nature and character of our Creator.
Although God instructs us not to forsake gathering ourselves together, do we always need to be in a church building to do this?
1 Chronicles 16:29 – Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. (NIV)
These offerings include time, talents, and money, generously and consistently offered to Him.
Psalm 100:2 – Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. (NIV)
www.oldchristianradio.com is a good website for hymns. Search for good CDs at thrift stores. Find out which Christian radio stations are broadcasting in your area. Sing along, even if you think that you can't carry a tune in a bucket.
Romans 12:1 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. (NIV)
Living our lives for Him, moment by moment, is a continual act of worship and sacrifice.
Hebrews 12:28-29 – Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire." (NIV)
God is holy, majestic, and powerful, so we need to worship Him with wonder and devotion.
Psalm 19:1 – The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (NIV)
Go for a walk or a hike, take a drive in God's beautiful world, watch a sunrise or a sunset, and worship Him for the beauty that He created.
As I write this, churches are gradually reopening. Some still remain closed, either because of government regulations or to protect their flock. I look forward to once again being able to fellowship with others and to hear God's message in person instead of from a computer screen. But closed or open, we can each continue to worship our Creator throughout each day.
Prayer: Father, help us to be in a constant attitude of worship, to give You the glory due Your name, to worship You with gladness, and to offer our bodies a holy and living sacrifice to You. Amen.
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Amen, Sharon.
Thanks for sharing, Sharon. God bless.
Hi Sharon. So beautifully said! Thank you and may our Lord bless you and keep you safe.
When everything around us looks so hopeless it’s so good to be reminded that God still reigns.
Dear Crafter Cook,
Thank you for a devotional that rang true from beginning to end.
For God’s sake keep writing.
Thanks Sharon well and kindly said.
I know Apache Junction having been there several times with my husband on holiday travels. What a special area.
Keep well. Thanks again.
Dear Sharon,
I just loved this; I loved every word you wrote. So on-target, and exactly what I needed to read today. Thank you so much for sharing this, and I hope to see you on “Daily” again, very soon.
Can’t believe that notice! Ours says “Church is closed, but God is still open”
Thanks for this excellent encouragement to worship and praise.
God bless you,
(BC Canada)
Greetings Sharon,
Many thanks for your devotional today. Sure, it is special having a church to meet and greet with other worshipers but there certainly are so many ways we can worship our loving Saviour so many times without being in the “building”. Your writing today really expresses this.
Blessings,
(B.C.)
Great reminders today, Sharon!
My neighbour asked me (from a ‘safe distancing visit’ in the front yard one day), how I was ‘managing’ without being able to ‘go to church’. A God-given opportunity presented itself to share that it’s just the church buildings that were closed for ‘however long’ and I am quite Ok with that. What a joy to continue to share with her as she inquired.
This sentence particularly resonated with me:
Living our lives for Him, moment by moment, is a continual act of worship and sacrifice.
Thanks for your words today!
Well said and inspired, Sharon! What wonderful scripture chosen in all its parts to bring home the message. God’s Words, written, meditated on, and spoken, have such power and strength to move us and change us. Thank you for choosing these today.
Thank you for this! I needed it today!