Filled With GratitudeSample

Ready Yourself

When you gather with others for worship, do you really find yourself ready?

Some hearts feel far away from God. We can’t shut off the voices or memories. We become restless and distracted. Impending irritations seem to linger. What are we to do?

‎Psalm 103:1-2 says: “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

Look at the last line of this passage. If we are not to forget his benefits, it’s because we are to remember all that He has done. When God brings to mind His goodness and we respond to that goodness, even if we don’t feel good ourselves, we are able to praise Him. (Colossians 1:11-12, 17, 20, 22)

Ask for help. I ask God to pour within me all His reminders and to fill my heart with remembrances. His faithful work overshadows my doubts and fears.

There’s no way to “get ready” or amped up for God without starting with God first. When we humble ourselves and lower our hearts, our sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit – which He will never despise. (Psalm 51:17)

This may appear like work before worship, but true praise and honesty can never be manufactured. It is about God and His glory. Worship is not about our emotional state. Sincerity of the heart is where God moves us through our emotions and into the Truth and Spirit of Christ.

Here, we find both the will and ability to worship Him and to praise Him, our souls, with all of our inmost being. We bow down and worship Him because of Who He is. The Lord keeps no records of wrong to veil Himself from the worship of His people.

Prayer for the day:

Almighty God, Maker of Heaven and Earth, I approach Your throne of grace with confidence, so that I may receive mercy and find grace to help in my time of need. (‎Heb.4:16) Thank You that Your everlasting love feeds my soul. Even if my heart faints, I never need to worry of Your supply. All that I needed, Your hand has provided. Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me. – Amen.