Tag: Worship

Devotionals

A God Moment

Loring Schultz

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.” Psalm 95:6-7 NKJV

            Have you ever had a God moment? How would you describe it? Each one of us is different in our own way and I’m sure our God moments would differ, of course seeing that you had one. GotQuestions.org describes it his way, “Many Christians define a God moment as an intimate, unique, or uncommon experience that helps them see that something or someone bigger than themselves (i.e., God) is at work in their lives. It might be an answered prayer, a sudden revelation, or a chance encounter.” (1) The simplest things could be a God moment for me. What some would consider a coincidence, I see as God presenting Himself making His presence known, a God moment.

            The other day during my quiet study time with the Lord, I was reading a devotional from a well-known Pastor and author, and was struggling to concentrate particularly on the key verse. Perhaps due to the early hour of the morning or my allowing my mind to wander, the verse wasn’t sinking in. Asking the Lord to sharpen my focus, He did just that. As I was reading the verse, the song on the radio was singing the exact words in exact time with my reading them. It got my attention. It was a God moment. The song produced and performed by ‘Maranatha Music.’ was “Oh come, let us worship and bow down.” In perfect timing they sang as I read, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down;  Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.” (Ps. 95:6-7 NKJV)

            The verse itself is a call to worship the Lord and recognize Him as our creator and God. He watches over us as His sheep and is with us at all times. There are many God moments in our lives that come and go without us even realizing them, not to mention the ones we take for granted. It is nice to be reminded with a God moment we are not expecting that He is continually pasturing His sheep. Have you been reminded lately with a God moment? Chances are, you were.

Bible Studies

“Worship” Conquering New Territory: The Book of Joshua (….through faith, courage, obedience, and devotion to the Word of God)

Loring Schultz

“While the Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month.” Joshua 5:10 NLT

            The Israelites are on the verge of implementing their campaign in conquering their new territory, the land God had promised them. The Lord had brought them to the banks of the Jordan River after forty years in the wilderness. He miraculously led them across the swollen river by causing the flowing waters to back up clearing the way for them to proceed on dry ground. The people erected a memorial of stones taken from the middle of the dry river bed as instructed by the Lord to remind them and future generations of God’s presence among them in their journey. There was yet one requirement needed to be fulfilled before entering the land, and that was the returning to the Abrahamic Covenant of commitment to the Lord.

            During the forty years of wilderness wandering Israel was under judgment for disobeying God and not following through to enter the land due to their lack of faith in Him. Circumcision, the surgical sign of commitment to the Abrahamic Covenant, was not carried out, nor was the Passover celebrated since the first anniversary of being led out of Egypt. All of that generation, except for a very few, died in the wilderness due to their unbelief. It was now the next generation that would be the recipients of God’s promise to bring His chosen people into the Promised Land. They had shown their belief and trust in God by obeying His commands and knowing that He would be with them.

            This new generation only knew life in the wilderness. They were guided by a cloud during the day and by fire at night and had fresh manna delivered every morning for food. Life was about to change radically for them, but all by God’s design. We need to have the same understanding as well for the changes we go through as God’s designs for us. Old familiar ways will be replaced by new never imagined experiences all for our good by the Lord Himself.

            The first thing Joshua did after setting in place the memorial stones was to follow God’s command to circumcise all the males below forty years old. The Abrahamic Covenant was about to be reinstated. The covenant relationship which was broken by their fathers was about to be restored to the new generation setting them off on the right foot as enter the Promised Land. The Passover would also be reinstated and celebrated each year on the fourteenth day of the first month. Worship was reestablished with the Lord God as they went forward.

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

            In it just as important in our day when we are going through changes in our lives to continue our walk with God and continue to worship Him. He is the one who will see us through the difficulties in our new territory, after all He is the one who has placed us there and has a plan for us. It is even more important if we have not been in a right relationship with God, as with Israel, to ask the Lord to restore us. Then we are able to worship to Him wholly.

            After Israel celebrated the Passover the Bible tells us they started to eat the fruit of the land and the mana ceased. The old provisions from God were over and God’s promised new provisions were on display and abundant for their needs. Our needs will also be met during our transition period, perhaps in different ways than before for we are in new territory just as God planned it.

            Wherever you are in adjusting to your new circumstances be careful to not neglect your worship to God. The Lord God, creator of the heavens and earth, and everything in between, including you, is worthy of worship. Do not get caught up in the changes you may be going through, but take advantage of this time to draw closer to God through worshiping the one who is directing you into your new territory.

Read Joshua 5:1-12 Israel Reestablishes Covenant Ceremonies:  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+5%3A1-12&version=NLT

Devotionals

Joyful singing

Loring Schultz

“Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.” Psalm 100:2 NASB

            Whether an old time hymn, a chorus medley, or one of our many contemporary compositions, worship songs tell the greatness of God, His Holy attributes, His love and mercy and our response to Him through Praise and Worship.

            The psalmist writes, “Come before Him with joyful singing.” Unfortunately or not, our response and participation in worshiping God through song is not always “with joyful singing.”  There made be instances when your mind is clouded, you are not feeling well, or you are having one of those days. Well take heart my friend, the Lord knows of your situation.

            Participating in worship songs is not only an outward activity, but also an inward response to our Lord. It is a matter of the heart. I admit my musical ability is limited, in fact it is very limited, including singing. My singing is anything but joyful to the general public, and I am not one who adheres to “make a joyful noise to the Lord.” Yes, the Lord knows of my situation, but I do not want to subject my brothers and sisters to my joyful noise.

            So whether you are having a bad day and you are not yourself, or your musical talent is on the short side, worshiping the Lord through song can still occur as the Lord knows your heart. You can worship, sing along and praise God in your heart. And the good news is that one day we will all be worshiping God around the throne in heaven with nothing to distract us, no sickness, no cares of this world, only joyful singing and with no one singing off key, not even me.