“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16 (NASB)
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Let this be a time of worship to God. Pray each prayer and add your own personal message to God. Read each scripture as though reading it for the first time – listen carefully for the voice of God. Listen to each song paying close attention to the lyrics provided. These songs were carefully chosen. Even if the music is not your favorite style of music, know that the musicians performing are sincerely making music to the Lord. Try to feel the passion in their words and their musical expression. Give thought to the message presented and confirm the truth therein by opening your Bible and taking some time to do your own personal study. May you be greatly blessed.
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Heavenly Father, we stand in your presence in awe of your awesome power and love. We seek that which is your will in our lives and look forward to the return of your Son Jesus Christ. Please Father, wrap your arms around each of us and provide for us all of our needs. Forgive us Father, for all of our mistakes and failures in our pursuit of righteousness. Develop in us the ability to also forgive those who disrupt our lives. Open our eyes Father, to the enemy who is in pursuit of our souls. Let us see clearly the evil trying to control our lives so that we can avoid destruction. We offer this prayer in the Holy name of Jesus. Amen.
Open your Bible anywhere right now (I’ll wait. An online Bible will do). Look at the text in front of you and know this to be an absolute fact – you are looking at the Word of God. This is our source for all knowledge of God. The Word of God is the unchanging foundation of our faith. As followers of Jesus Christ, we find peaceful reassurance, strength, hope, and guidance in the pages of the Bible. When we study the Bible, we are filled with wisdom and gratitude; this is the fuel that stimulates our desire to praise and worship our God.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:15-17 (NASB)
There’s a great old hymn, written in 1897, that most people know, titled “Count Your Blessings.” This hymn is a simple encouragement to make a list of all the things God has done in your life. Unfortunately, many of us tend to get so caught up in dodging the attacks by the enemy we fail to give credit to all that God is doing in our lives. We can start with the simple fact that we are alive, and then add to that everything else that God has provided. If we look back at the years gone by, there will be a long list of times that God came through for us and blessed our lives in some profound way. Spending a few minutes to actually write out a list of all that God has done in our lives is a good way to stimulate a need for praise and worship.
“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him; worship the Lord in holy array.” 1 Chronicles 16:29 (NASB)
There is, of course, one thing above all others that God has done for all Christians: God sent his Son Jesus Christ to pay the price for our sin, granting us each eternal life. Stop reading right now and sit for a moment contemplating that astonishing undeserved gift granted by the mercy of our God.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NASB)
Jesus Christ is the light of the world that came down from heaven to sacrifice his life on our behalf. He is altogether worthy of all of our praise and worship.
Let this song prepare your heart for our continued worship.
Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
King of all days
Oh so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came to the earth You created
All for love’s sake became poor
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
Well, I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
Well, I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
Well, I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
You are God’s creation. You were created by the hand of God. You were created with love. God so loves you, he has allowed you to pursue your own path in life. Even when you make a decision to turn your back on him, God continues to love you.
“You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.” Psalm 86:15 (NASB)
Jesus paid the ultimate price for our salvation. There is no greater love. We owe our eternal existence to God’s love and mercy; therefore, we should come before God with reverence and submission to his will. As followers of Jesus, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit guiding and protecting us every step of the way. As followers of Jesus, God is with us through all of our struggles. No matter how difficult life becomes, our loving Father is with us ready to catch us if we fall.
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19(NASB)
Trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior brings you into the family of God. As Christians, we are children of God. This single act is a clear demonstration of the profound love God has for his creation. No matter how far away from him we wander, he is always ready to receive us back into his loving arms. There is nothing we can do to separate ourselves from the love of God.
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God.” 1 John 3:1 (NASB)
As we stand before God with our praise, worshiping his holy name, we surrender our soul into his hands. Our hearts are overflowing with love, gratitude, and reverence for our awesome God.
Let this song open up your spirit to God.
You gave away Your freedom for my heart
The price You paid to give eternal life
The limits of Your grace go past the heavens
The universe could not contain Your love
How great is Your love, my soul surrenders
To who You are and, all You’ve done
I’ll lift my praises, to You, my Savior
For who You are and, all You’ve done
Passion moved Your heart to save my soul
The universe declares Your love for us
The splendor of Your glory came from heaven
The proof of God pursuing us with love
How great is Your love, my soul surrenders
To who You are and, all You’ve done
I’ll lift my praises, to You, my Savior
For who You are and, all You’ve done
Maker of the heavens, there is none like You
My soul longs for You, and I believe
Holy is Your name, the most beautiful
None can stand against my King
Maker of the heavens, there is none like You
My soul longs for You, and I believe
Holy is Your name, the most beautiful
None can stand against my King
How great is Your love, my soul surrenders
To who You are and, all You’ve done
I’ll lift my praises, to You, my Savior
For who You are and, all You’ve done
How great is Your love, my soul surrenders
To who You are and, all You’ve done
I’ll lift my praises, to You, my Savior
For who You are and, all You’ve done
When we fully commit our lives to following Jesus, there is a peace of mind that allows our soul to rest in his capable hands. God has provided for us in remarkable ways. Following in the footsteps of Jesus is the key to finding the peace that he has promised.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30(NASB)
Jesus came into this world on our behalf, took on our sin and died on the cross to set us free. In his resurrection he demonstrated his power to overcome death and transmit eternal life to those who believe in him and trust him as their Lord and Savior. When Jesus tells us there will be peace in knowing him, we can be certain he will deliver on that proclamation.
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27 (NASB)
There are many reasons to rejoice in the Lord. His love, mercy, and peace are the cornerstones of our desire to worship him. Our salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit are the solid structure built on that foundation. Our eternal destiny is the guarantee that our relationship with him goes on forever.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, 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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7 (NASB)
Let this song fill your spirit with praise.
Lay down your burdens, lay down your pride
Rest in the mercy that Jesus provides
Come all ye weary, broken inside
Lay down your burdens, lay down your life
Come and lift your voice
At the throne of grace, we come alive
Let the lost rejoice, in Jesus Christ
His arms are open wide
Lay down your burdens, lay down your pride
Rest in the mercy that Jesus provides
Come all ye weary, broken inside
Lay down your burdens, lay down your life
Come and lift your voice
At the throne of grace, we come alive
Let the lost rejoice, in Jesus Christ
His arms are open wide
Let these mountains shake
From the sound of voices multiplied
As our souls awake, in Jesus Christ
His arms are open wide
We come alive in You, Jesus
Oh, there’s nothing like Your presence
Mmm
In this moment
In this moment, in Your presence
Overwhelmed by love, we come alive
We cry holy, King of Glory
Jesus Christ, Your name be lifted high
In this moment, in Your presence
Overwhelmed by love, we come alive
We cry holy, King of Glory
Jesus Christ, Your name be lifted high
In this moment, in Your presence
Overwhelmed by love, we come alive
We cry holy, King of Glory
Jesus Christ, Your name be lifted high
In this moment, in Your presence
Overwhelmed by love, we come alive
We cry holy, King of Glory
Jesus Christ, Your name be lifted high
Come and lift your voice
At the throne of grace, we come alive
Let the lost rejoice, in Jesus Christ
His arms are open wide
Let these mountains shake
From the sound of voices multiplied
As our souls awake, in Jesus Christ
His arms are open wide
His door is now open to you. You are in God’s presence. Don’t leave without Him. Keep Him with you throughout your day.
Go in peace.
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