Welcome back, hope you have been worshipping more and worrying less. I think at this point in our journey, it's important to find rest for our souls. Ever noticed how refreshed you feel after a good a night's sleep, and how distressed you feel when you have had difficulty sleeping? If you are at all like me and suffer with bouts of insomnia, you are familiar with the affects of prolonged periods of sleepless nights. Instead of refreshed we feel irritated, frustrated, reactive, impatient and we are easily angered. These very same symptoms are experienced when we fail to rest in the Lord. Essentially, we become spiritual insomniacs. Like many who have trouble sleeping have a routine to help ensure a good night's rest, we too need a routine for spiritual rest. Our routine for rest is found in Phillipians chapter 4. If we follow it faithfully we are guaranteed to experience freedom from agitation and frustration, and find rest for our souls. It begins with learning to daily Practice our Praise: Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice - Phil 4:4. Praise promotes joy (The joy of the Lord is our strength - Neh 8:10b). It's almost like Paul anticipated the objections of his readers: "Paul, you want me to rejoice, do you have any idea of what I am going through ?". So he writes, and again I say, Rejoice. Even in the face of difficulty or on days when we are just not feeling it, we must start to practice praising the Lord. Like the Psalmist in Psalm 34, we must have a made up mind (I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord - Ps 34:1-2a). When we choose, and yes it is a decision, to praise the Lord our countenance changes (Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely - Ps 147:1; Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright - Ps 33:1). Secondly, we must learn to Portray Gentleness: Let your moderation be known unto man, the Lord is at hand (Phil 4:5). We should have a reputation for being gentle and patient, not harsh and impatient. Some of us will have to work harder on practicing this part of the routine more than others, but we can do all things through Christ who keeps on strengthening us - Phil 4:13. Portray gentleness even if you are feeling impatience and irritated on the inside. Add to Practicing our Praise, and Portraying Gentleness, Putting Away Worry: Be careful for nothing - Phil 4:6a. We should have practice with putting away worry from last week's post. We are encouraged not to be anxious or overly concerned about anything. Worry pulls us in different directions. Hope is on one side and worry/fear is on the other. Worry makes us come apart. When difficult situations arise, so will worry, but we have work at putting it away, and begin to pray instead. Praying about everything must be added to our routine for rest: But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto to God - Phil 4:6b. This word prayer means to worship (admiration for and to stand in awe of God because of His greatness) and to let Him know our specific concerns with earnest intensity (supplications). We are to start talking to God about every little thing so that the little things don't become big things we worry and fret about. The implication is that we are engaged in an ongoing conversation with the Lord all day long, constantly casting every little concern over to Him, and always aware of His presence. Sticking to a routine of Praise, Portraying Gentleness, Putting away Worry and Praying about Everything, ensures we will experience the peace of God: And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus - Phil 4:7. This is not normal peace, this is divine, mind blowing peace that defies comprehension and explanation. It's peace in the face of difficulty when everyone expects despair to show up, the peace of God shows up and sets a guard at our hearts and minds refusing to allow to despair and discouragement in. People are amazed at the peace you have! Let's work on practicing our routine this week so that we can begin to enjoy spiritual rest. learning to rest, Diane p.s. Every time worry shows up, put it away and begin to pray. Your prayers begin with worship. Practice praising the Lord daily, and often throughout the day. Perfect your praise! You will start to look different. Yes, portray gentleness. Be kind even though you may feel irritated. Enjoy your rest! As we continue our journey, it is important to understand our need for worship. Worship is so essential to our spiritual existence, it is like the air we breathe. We are commanded to worship (Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool; for He is Holy - Ps 99:5 and Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His Name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness - Ps 29:2). Worship is an attitude of the heart that acknowledges the presence and the power of God, ascribes worth to His person and stands in awe of His holiness. In other words, worship is when we are so overwhelmed by the greatness of Almighty God, we are left speechless (Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him - Ps 33:8). It is to be so moved by who God is that the phrase "it's not about me" is no longer just a cliche but a reality. When was the last time you worshipped? (But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him - John 4:23). Just think, if we worshipped more, we would worry less. We are challenged to worship instead of worrying: Be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God...Phil 4:3. The word prayer in this verse actually carries with it the idea of adoration, devotion and worship. Most of the time we worry about things which we have no control over; more often than not the things we worry about never actually happen. We are to put away worry, and begin to worship. Replace our anxious thoughts with thoughts about our Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient God. Worshipping instead of worrying fills us with hope instead of anxiety because our confidence is in the God of Hope (In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence; and His children shall have a place of refuge - Pro 14:26). Worship causes our perspective of who God really is to enlarge and we begin to understand that nothing is too hard for God. If we worshipped more, we would have more wisdom (The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; knowledge of the holy is understanding - Pro 9:10). When we begin to see the Lord in all of His majesty we become more amazed by Him and less impressed with ourselves (In the year that King Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon the throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings...And one cried unto another, and said Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory. Then said I, Woe is me ! I am undone: because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts - Is 6:1-3,5). When we actually begin to see the character, sufficiency and sovereignty of the Lord, our deficiencies are exposed. We are humbled in His presence, receptive to His voice and blessed with His wisdom. Just like we must breathe, we must worship. Replace worry with worship. This week let's think less about ourselves and more about Him. Think about the Holiness of God. Think about the Power of God. Think about His Goodness. Look up at the stars and see how He has arranged them and named each one. There is no one like our God! Let's worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness. working on worshipping more, Diane |
Archives
April 2022
Categories
All
|