As we approach Thanksgiving, I invite you to meet me in God's place of worship, or His courts. Call me crazy, but I think worship can occur anytime or anywhere. I'd like to suggest what we can bring to God's courts, what we might take away, and why they are all beneficial.
(Trust me, it took years for me to move past "needing" gothic stained glass windows to feel like I was in church.)
A couple of months ago, we spent some time looking at some of the ways the Psalms can minister to us. Among others, we specifically looked at "praise".
A couple of months ago, we spent some time looking at some of the ways the Psalms can minister to us. Among others, we specifically looked at "praise".
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and
praise his name.
Psalm 100:4 NIV
How often have I grudgingly moped into church after a particularly bad week? In the Lord's courts, surrounded by His people, their praise nudged me under the fountain of His unconditional love.
Praise is me surrendering all my crazy in an eye-closed, oblivious to everything but our most Holy God, full throttle celebration of Him. It's God seeing His beloved child, not all the trash I brought with me.
For me, praise is cleansing, energizing.
Praise is me surrendering all my crazy in an eye-closed, oblivious to everything but our most Holy God, full throttle celebration of Him. It's God seeing His beloved child, not all the trash I brought with me.
For me, praise is cleansing, energizing.
Not only does the Old Testament exhort us to come into God's courts or His Temple, Jesus models for us the importance of being in our Father's house:
46-47 Three days later they finally discovered him. He was in the Temple, sitting among the teachers of Law, discussing deep questions with them and amazing everyone with his understanding and answers.
48 His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son!” his mother said to him. “Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”
49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you realize that I would be here at the Temple, in my Father’s House?”
Luke 2:46-49 TLB
One of the few things we know about Jesus before His public ministry began is the story of him in his Father's House. He seems to have known at an early age the purpose and the pleasure to be gained from spending time there.
There are tons of verses encouraging us to praise God for tons of reasons. I'm learning that filling His courts with praise is as much for our benefit, as it is to give God the glory He deserves.
Dear Reader, what are your best moments of worship? Where do you meet God? Prayers that this week you will gasp in delight as worship erupts from your soul.
There are tons of verses encouraging us to praise God for tons of reasons. I'm learning that filling His courts with praise is as much for our benefit, as it is to give God the glory He deserves.
Dear Reader, what are your best moments of worship? Where do you meet God? Prayers that this week you will gasp in delight as worship erupts from your soul.
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