"I Exalt Thee!"

My solitary voice raised in song in the church sanctuary yesterday: “For Thou, O Lord, art high above all the earth; Thou art exalted above all gods…”   After hearing a report that was discouraging, I knew there was only one thing to do:  offer my praise and worship to the One who is greater than all these ‘light and momentary’ troubles.  For the rest of the day and into the night my mind worked on the problem, but with a different perspective.  I was not alone. It was not my burden to carry.  I am expecting His answer, encouraged by His greatness, because worship changes me.

Paul and Silas knew the power of worship. After being falsely charged and cruelly beaten they were thrown into the inner, dark cell of the jail in Philippi. Through their tears, they lifted their hearts together in worship. "Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening." (Acts 16:25, NLT)  God sent an earthquake that shook the foundations of that prison and their chains fell off.  But the best result that night came when their jailer saw their great faith in the Lord and trusted in Christ Jesus.  The Church was planted in that city that night, growing out of a sacrifice of praise. Worship changes circumstances.

Worship goes to the heart of our identity.  N.T. Wright says that “You become like what you worship. When you gaze in awe, admiration, and wonder at something or someone, you begin to take on something of the character of the object of your worship.” ― Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense   I want to be like Jesus, so I will come and bow in worship!  What we do flows out of who we are.  Do you want to be changed? Then, become a person who lives worshipfully.

From the beginning,  God has sought our worship. In the 10 Commandments, we are told that there are to be no other gods, no idols, in our lives.  He owns our worship exclusively. Does He just want the songs we sing on Sunday? Not at all.  Worship takes many forms, but the heart of it is the same: giving worth to the Lord. 

We can worship by caring for His Creation.
We can worship by loving those He loves.
We can worship by writing a poem. 
We worship when we pray in faith, when we give our time and money to causes of His kingdom. 

Worship is putting Him first, before all other persons, things, or possessions. 

Worship is both an act of faith and a response of our heart. 

Sometimes worship pours out of us like a standing ovation at the end of a great performance.  God’s Presence touches us so deeply we just cannot help but praise Him!  And then there are times when we worship Him because He demands it and we desire obedience!  Know this: because worship releases such power, because it pleases God,  all of evil will conspire to keep us from it.  The devil is content to keep us pre-occupied with the ‘stuff’ of life.  If we are consumed by our work, obsessing about our appearance, frantic to make things work – our hearts are given to idols.  But, Jesus teaches that if we “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, (giving worth to God) … all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33, NIV)

Make time to worship.  Engage your mind and heart. Borrow a Psalm, sing a song.  Quietly adore Him. Write a prayer of thanksgiving.  Pour out your concerns.  These are acts of worship.

"Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness." (Psalm 29:1-2, NIV)

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All Creatures Of Our God And King

All creatures of our God and King

Lift up your voice and with us sing

Alleluia alleluia

Thou burning sun with golden beam

Thou silver moon with softer gleam

O praise Him O praise Him

Alleluia alleluia alleluia

Thou rushing wind that art so strong

Ye clouds that sail in heaven along

O praise Him alleluia

Thou rising morn in praise rejoice

Ye lights of evening find a voice

O praise Him O praise Him

Alleluia alleluia alleluia

And all ye men of tender heart

Forgiving others take your part

O sing ye alleluia

Ye who long pain and sorrow bear

Praise God and on Him cast your care

O praise Him O praise Him

Alleluia alleluia alleluia

Let all things their Creator bless

And worship Him in humbleness

O praise Him alleluia

Praise praise the Father praise the Son

And praise the Spirit Three in One

O praise Him O praise Him

Alleluia alleluia alleluia

St. Francis of Assisi

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