[Our second day of camp began with severe thunderstorms about 5:30 a.m. that knocked out power to many families in the area and caused road closures because of trees down. We did delay the opening of camp by one hour to give families a chance to make adjustments, but then we had every camper there! The rest of the day went smoothly and power restoration efforts are continuing in our area. Our family was told we won’t have power for at least another 1-2 days and, since our internet access has been sketchy, at best, I’ve been challenged to finish All the Things for camp. Thankfully, God has provided all I need – time, help, and even supernatural rest. As I was preparing devotions on praise and worship, I wrote this piece that I will share with you. Please continue to uphold this camp in prayer.]
[T]he true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:23-24 NKJV)
I believe there are two movements when we come together for corporate praise and worship – we remember and we respond.
We remember what he’s done for us. We remember the Red Sea moments of our own lives when he’s delivered us. We remember that Jesus died for our salvation. We remember God’s character qualities and who he is – faithful, gracious, loving, just, merciful, creative, and so much more. We remember the promises God has given us in his Word. Sometimes we remember by thinking, sometimes by praying, sometimes by reading the Bible, sometimes in taking the communion elements, but we remember because Jesus told us to do so.
“Then Jesus took bread and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He broke the bread, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given up for you. Do this to remember me.” (Luke 22:19 GW)
We remember God in our worship, but both in personal worship and in corporate worship, we respond to God. We praise God for who he is in our words, our songs, and so much more. We worship God in sweet intimacy. That response comes out of our hearts and spirits. The Holy Spirit within us will lead us in worship, if we listen and allow him to.
God,
By your Spirit teach us to praise you. Teach us to worship you. Guide us so that every day we remember what you have done for us and we respond to that. Help our hearts to be pure and our worship to be honoring to you, we ask in Jesus’s name, AMEN.