Praise & Worship

And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Nehemiah 8:6 

When was the last time you really praised and worshipped God? In the busyness of the season may we never forget to praise and worship the LORD!

Thank you Lord, for your greatness and wonderfulness, help me to never take your word for granted. There are people right now suffering for believing in You. Help me Lord to have a heart of praise and worship each and every day.

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen. Psalm 41:13

Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. 19 And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. Psalm 72:18 -19

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Ephesians 1:3

Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. Psalm 63:4 

Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. Lamentations 3:41

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Moments

Happy Moments,

Praise God.

And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. Psalm 35:28

Difficult Moments,

Seek God.

Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. I Chronicles 16:11

Quiet Moments,

Worship God.

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Psalm 29:2

Painful Moments,

Trust God.

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5

Every Moment,

Thank God.

Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.  I Chronicles 29:13

Be thankful,
Donna

Confess, Worship, Praise

[1] Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them. [2] And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. [3] And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God. [4] Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God. [5] Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. Nehemiah 9:1-5

Here we have a picture of the children of Israel getting right with God. The wall is built and prepared with guards to protect the area. It is now time for the people to be “built up” in the Lord. It is time for them to draw nigh to God so He will draw nigh (get close) to them (James 4:8).

What were the steps that were taken to accomplish this task?

~ Fasted – The act of abstaining from food.

~ Stood and confessed their sins and the sins of their fathers.

~ Read the book of the law for ¼ of the day – earnestly striving to know what God wanted them to do

~ Confessed – asked for forgiveness

~ Worshipped God after reading the word and confessing their sin

~ Praised His glorious name

Each step taken was toward God and away from self.

Today as one speaks to a Christian most of the “buzz” words spoken are praise and worship. Not much is said in regard to repentance, confession, fasting. As with everything Christianity is not just one or two items, but a multitude of things that need to be together. One cannot truly worship and praise God without repenting (to turn away) of sin and asking God for forgiveness.

As with the Israelites of this time Christians need to be in tune with God. We need to examine ourselves and make sure our motives are right before God.

[23] Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: [24] And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

Have a blessed day,
Donna