Receiving the Refreshment of the LordSample

Day 5-REVERE

Let’s take a look at another word that leads to rest and refreshment in Jesus: REVERE. Have you ever considered the difference between gratitude and praise? We express gratitude to thank God for what He's done. We praise (or worship or reverence) Him for who He is. When we worship, it draws us in to Jesus, and moves our focus onto WHO He is. It isn't dependent on circumstances or on whether He's answered our prayers yet, or whether He's answered them in the way we think He should. Look at two Old Testament examples of how worship can bring about completely unexpected results. In chapter 6 of Joshua, God told Joshua to march around the city of Jericho for seven days, and then sound the horn and give a shout of praise. And do you remember what happened? The wall came down!! In 2nd Chronicles, Jehoshaphat sent worshippers out front into battle. They worshipped and sang praise to God, and He wiped out their enemies. They didn't even have to fight. Worshipping, praising, REVERENCING God allows Him to work in our lives in beautiful, unexpected ways. We begin to delight in Him as we worship...as we focus on Him. And as we do that, Jesus gives us that peace which passes understanding. He takes the weight of whatever burden we’ve been carrying. Paul says in Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ.”

Father, we give you our praise and our worship today. Thank you that as we focus on worship you fill our hearts with your wonderful peace, refreshing our hearts and minds.