Scripture “O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of… More
Long View
Scripture
“Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.” Genesis 25:31-33 ESV
Observation
Jacob had been cooking stew and Esau came in from the field exhausted and hungry. Jacob sees an opportunity to get Esau’s birthright so in Esau’s weak moment he makes a bargain. “Sell me your birthright now”. Esau agrees and gives it up to Jacob.
Application
Esau sought a temporary solution to deal with his immediate hunger. In an exhausted state he gives up what should be the most important, his birthright. In the same way we often give up what is most important for temporary satisfaction. Instead of a long term view of life we seek a temporary solution to satisfy our hunger and thirst. May we capture an eternal perspective and live our lives with a long term view.
Prayer
Lord may I see you in the everyday experiences. As I face challenges may I always have an eternal perspective and not seek short-term satisfaction.
Go and Tell
Scripture
“And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”” Mark 5:19 ESV
Observation
Jesus and his disciples went to the other side of the sea and came to Gerasenes. There they met a man possessed by unclean spirits, and because of the number he gave himself the name legions. Jesus cast out the spirits into a herd of swine. The people demanded Jesus to leave their country so while he was boarding his boat, the delivered man came and asked to go with him. Jesus refused but told him to go back to his home and tell everything that had happened. As he returned and told them of what Jesus did everyone marveled.
Application
The transformations in our lives are given to point others to the glory of God. A transformed life is a testimony of the power of God over sin. When we have experienced the change in our lives that Jesus Christ brings we should tell others of what he has done. Jesus alone receives the glory and others marvel at his mercy and grace. Let us proclaim to those around us what Jesus Christ has done.
Prayer
Lord, today as I move from an encounter with you give me opportunities to share the testimony of what you have done in my life so they may hear of your good works and give you glory.
Prayerful Waiting
Scripture
“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31 ESV
Observation
Often we are faint, weary, and exhausted; it is at those times that we wait upon the Lord and our strength will be renewed. We will mount up with wings like eagles; run and not grow weary; and walk and joy faint.
Application
In our times of exhaustion we are called to wait. This is the point where we often falter in prayer, waiting on the Lord. When we seek the Lord in prayer we desire an immediate solution to our problems. To wait means we have to postpone the solutions to our dilemma and we are able to draw closer to the Lord and allow our will to be adjusted by his. In the space between our prayer and God’s solution we come to a greater understanding of how God is using our current situation to accomplish His purposes. Our waiting becomes a time of discernment.
I once heard someone describe waiting as that of a waiter. The waiter is actively returning back to the table to see how he can better serve the customer. In the same way we are actively waiting on the Lord. Going back to him to discern His will in our situation; and seeking to know how we may best make adjustments in our life so that we may conform to His image and desires for our lives. So as we pray, let us learn to wait for we are promised that at the end of our waiting we will soar.
Prayer
Lord, teach me to wait on you, to yield to your leading so that I may experience your full restoration and rest.
Prayer Worship
Scripture
“Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!” Psalms 141:2 ESV
Observation
Our prayer and worship is an offering of praise to the Lord.
Application
We often come to prayer with our own agenda in mind. We want to receive something from our Heavenly Father. Prayer is an opportunity to lift our praise and worship to the Lord. In prayer we recognize the eternal work behind our temporary circumstances. May our prayers be an act of worship and and expression of praise to our Lord who is working behind the scenes of our lives.
Prayer
Lord today may my prayer be a wonderful fragrance of praise and worship to You.
Instrument of Praise
Scripture
“Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!” Psalms 150:3-6 ESV
Observation
Our praise is expressed in many ways and the Psalmist is calling for everything that breathes to praise the Lord.
Application
The life we live is made possible by the breath we breath. The air that fills our lungs is a byproduct of the creation God has created. Our Lord is the source of life and we are called to praise the Lord with the instrument of our choice. Individually we all have something to contribute to the symphony of praise. It may be an instrument we play, a voice we proclaim, or a skill we express. No matter what the instrument of choice we are called to “praise the Lord, praise the Lord”!
Prayer
Lord today I praise you. I will use the instruments of my life to express my praise and glorify you. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord!
Joyful Worship
Scripture
“I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” Psalms 9:2 ESV
Observation
Gladness and celebration flows from our worship thus we sing praises to the Lord, Most High.
Application
We are looking for gladness and celebration in life. We want a sense of thrill in our ordinary and often routine lives. Where will we find such joy? The psalmist reveals that it will be found in the worship of our Heavenly Father. It is in our worship that we are transported into the presence of a holy and glorious God. He is beyond routine but is magnificent and glorious. In his presence there is joy unspeakable.
Prayer
Lord, may I find the gladness and joy I am looking for in you alone. Today may I seek to praise and glorify you for in you there is celebration and jubilation.
All Glory
Scripture
““Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”” Revelation 4:11 ESV
Observation
The Lord deserves all glory, honor, and power for He created all things and by His desire all things exist and were created.
Application
Our existence is grounded in our creator God for He desired that all things would exist thus they were created. When we come to grips with the reality that we owe our total existence to the Lord our God then it will change the course of our lives. We will live no longer for our own pleasure but the pleasures and will of God. The Lord deserves all glory and all honor for everything and everyone that existed owes their existence to God.
Prayer
Lord today as I go about my daily tasks, may I give you all glory and all honor for “this is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice”.
Exalt
Scripture
“Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!” Psalms 99:5 ESV
Observation
We exalt the Lord above all else. We worship at his feet and cry holy.
Application
We extol, praise, esteem, and revere our holy God. There is no better place than to be at the feet of our Lord.
Prayer
Lord we praise you and exalt you. May you always be the focus of our lives as we seek to glorify you.
Heart Praise
Scripture
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” Psalms 28:7 ESV
Observation
The Lord protects and my heart finds refuge in him. Praise rises up within my being and I give thanks to the Lord.
Application
The Lord provides strength and a shield against those things that can steer our hearts toward restlessness and fear. When anxiety rises the Word of God speaks into our heart words of peace and comfort.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7
The Lord turns our restlessness to rest and praise and worship rises up out of the comfort and guidance the Lord provides.
Prayer
Lord, I praise you and exalt you for my heart finds rest in your strength. Today may praise rise up from the depths of my life and be ever present on my lips.
Humble Worship
Scripture
“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. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts,..”Psalms 95:6-8 ESV
Observation
We are called to come in humility and worship the Lord our Maker. We are his people and he cares for us as a good shepherd.
Application
Worship is an act of humility and commitment. When we come to worship we turn aside from our own selfish agendas and self promotions. In bowing our hearts and knees before the Lord we demonstrate the ultimate authority the Lord has over our lives. We choose to lay all at his feet. We lay down our own efforts and agendas and yield to our maker and King.
The psalmist also reveals that our worship is not to a God who is far off but a God who is near and cares for us. Like a shepherd who cares for his sheep the Lord cares for us as his people because we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. Being under his hand we submit ourselves to the authority of the our good shepherd and his guidance. As we come to the Lord today may we not harden our hearts but yield fully to His leadership and guidance.
Prayer
Lord, I choose today to come under your loving authority. I lay aside all self promotion so that I may exalt you in all areas of life.
Upward Journey 