“I will celebrate before the Lord” - 2 Sam 6:21 (NIV)
Sometime back I came across a video clip of a group of men seated somewhere and sniping about other people’s style of worship, which was too much for them. They felt those other people’s way of worship was being quite too expressive.
Now of-course looking down on some other person and their worship style comes with a long tradition, taunted with a bit of pride. When David took to the streets dancing in jubilation for return of the ark, his wife, Micah, a princess from the house of King Saul, was certainly not so amused and despised him at that ( 2 Sam 6: 16- 23).
But what Micah and these men apparently were missing was that our worship is not meant for men but God. Maybe we should always first ask if God is happy before we rush to frown upon others whose strokes are not to our taste.
This by the way is not meant to do away with order in church; all congregations need rules to manage services. But we error where we start squeezing God in a how to worship him to do box.
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven today I pray that I may know when it comes to worship if is for you and not to please man.
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03/05/2024 - 04/05/2024 All day“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10)
Every now and then one could be gripped with fear because of certain events sweeping before one’s life journey. It could be the finances that are stretched and incomes are no longer certain. Perhaps it is one’s job under threat. Perhaps it is a dreaded health report card. There could be fear about outcome of a matter under judgment and what it might mean to one’s future.
Fear has been elsewhere described as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.” Every life will experience fear at one point. Whenever we are faced with fear it is natural to look for something to grasp on. Sometimes we run for shelter wherever we can find. Perhaps we might seek out a friend for quiet confidence.
But there are those situations when there is no shelter in sight. There are also those cases where those we thought would understand our situation once we share our pain return only hurting and critical feedback. In such moments we might then turn and look within ourselves only to find the energy has all been sapped by this gnawing fear. We feel down and the urge to rise and move on all gone!
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10) the word of God through prophet Isaiah assures us. But why? It is because the Lord has been there. He himself was faced with fear before his crucifixion but He looked to God.
Charles Spurgeon once wrote when faced with fear always remember, “Nothing is too hard for Him. He can find a way where there is no way. He can give us the idea that will make all the difference.” Psalm 91:2, says, “I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” So, when faced with fear, look to God to strengthen you. By looking to Him, the Lord will encourage and lift up your spirit, and make a way out of nowhere!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I surrender to you any fear that is in me for I know by looking up to you, you will always make a way out of nowhere, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
