[Our third day of the arts camp was without the storm chaos of the previous day and went very smoothly. It is such a blessing to see all these smiling faces and create works of art together! We have two more days of camp, closing with a final program on Friday night. I covet your prayers that we will continue with electricity and internet service so I can do what I need to do behind the scenes so these campers can have a great evening showing off for parents! The following is a piece of the devotions I led today.]
Say to God,
“How awesome are Your works!
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
All the earth shall worship You
And sing praises to You;
They shall sing praises to Your name.” (Psalm 66:1-4 NKJV)
Do you think that God NEEDS to be praised or worshipped? Does God really need anything? We’re pretty puny; can our words or songs or other expressions really DO anything for God? I don’t think God NEEDS our praise. I think WE need to praise and worship God. The word “Praise” is in the Bible 363 times and “Worship” 496 times! Evidently, it’s important to God and to us!
Have you ever had a hard day when everything seemed to be going badly? Maybe in the course of that day someone came to you to comfort you or encourage you. Maybe a parent, or a friend, or a kind teacher said something that praised you and helped you feel better. Believe it or not, even in the midst of very bad days, when we praise and worship God it helps us feel better.
I have a dear friend whose husband died suddenly when they were very young. I remember at his funeral watching my friend praise God with her singing and her heart, even in the midst of that deep tragedy and grief. Her face was up, her smile was on, and she was singing praise to God, even when her heart was broken because of her loss. I believe that the praise she gave God at that time was given back to her as strength, courage, and endurance as she grieved.
Not all of us have such dramatic stories of how praise and worship have lifted us up, but I bet you’ve noticed that when you go to church and sing songs you feel better. When you are having a rough day, start reading from some of the psalms that give you words for that praise. Start singing praise and worship songs that give God praise. God lifts us up as we lift him up.
We also need worship; we were created to worship. Remember what would happen if we don’t praise God? The Rocks will cry out! But is praise the same as worship? Not exactly. Worship is more intimate, personal – even losing yourself as you adore God. Worship comes out of a place of bowing down and humility; it is a conversation with God. Worship is a reverent surrender, including confession and intercession, but always ADORING God. Worship is when we give our deepest affections and highest praise to something.* Worship is a time we are totally focused on God.
Eugene Peterson said it this way: “Worship is the time and place that we assign for deliberate attentiveness to God.” – Eugene Peterson
God, may we focus our deliberate attentiveness on you so that we honor you with our hearts, minds, and spirits. Help us to praise you no matter our circumstances, and to seek your heart for us. May our praise and our worship be a sweet song in your ears. AMEN.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. (Psalm 150)
*(https://www.lwf.org/gods-desires-for-you-a-biblical-guide/what-is-worship-according-to-the-bible)