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I love the Psalms

~ Connecting daily with God through the Psalms

I love the Psalms

Tag Archives: worship

Pastor Jack Hayford Finished Well

21 Saturday Jan 2023

Posted by davidkitz in Psalms

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Prayer, David Kitz, worship, Foursquare Church, Jack Hayford, leader, pastor

In this age of scandal and disappointment, what a blessing it is to see a leader finish well. Pastor Jack Hayford, who was promoted to glory on January 8th, 2023, fought the fight, ran the race, and kept the faith.

Pastor Jack was born as a breech baby with a near-fatal neck condition. After prayers for breakthrough, Jack was miraculously healed. A few years later, he was healed from childhood polio. These healings gave Jack a deep reliance on the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit for daily living.

Jack Hayford - Photo

Pastor Jack Hayford

For thirty years, he was the lead pastor of Church on the Way, Van Nuys, California, growing to over 12,000 people by 1999. Fifty percent of his congregation was Spanish-speaking. Randy Remington, president of the Foursquare denomination, commented, “Pastor Jack was a Kingdom ambassador whose influence transcended denominational, generational, and global boundaries.”

Jack served as President of the Foursquare denomination from 2004 to 2009. However, he was widely accepted across the Body of Christ as belonging to all of us. As a child, he had attended, along with his parents, Presbyterian, Methodist, Foursquare, Quaker, Alliance, and Baptist churches. He left a remarkable legacy as a Christian statesman and bridge builder. Ed Stetzer, editor-in-chief of Outreach Magazine, commented, “He was both a great man and a humble man.”

Jack was remarkably Christ-centered. It was all about Jesus, rather than all about himself. So often, even as Christians, we put our leaders on pedestal, and then knock them off.

Jack was a deep person of prayer, loving to pray privately in both English and in the Spirit. He commented, “Once I come out of the prayer closet, I need to be the kind of person like Jesus, that touchable, true, human, desirable kind of person.”

You may wonder how did he accomplish so much in his eighty-eight years. We can imagine the saints in heaven welcoming Jack perhaps with a rendition of Jack’s song Majesty. It is hard to believe that he wrote more than 600 songs, and over fifty books. He was passionate about enabling others to penetrate spiritual darkness. Jack helped people rediscover God’s Kingdom presence in worship:

“Worship has often been misunderstood as the musical prelude, rather than the means by which we, as the people of God, invite the dominion of his kingdom to be established on earth.”

Jack was President of Life Pacific University (1977-1982) and in 1997 became the founder and Chancellor of The King’s University (TKU) and Seminary in Southlake, Texas. He also was the General Editor of the Spirit Filled Life® Bible and the Spirit Filled Life® Commentaries. Jack had a remarkable gift of seamlessly integrating Word and Spirit.

Pastor Jack had a remarkable impact on Christian pastors and leaders around the world. David Kitz, author, and chair of The Word Guild, recalls sitting under Hayford’s teaching ministry at the All-Japan Pentecostal Conference in 1984.

“Above all Pastor Jack was a man of the Word. He was a Pentecostal with brains. He merged the fire and passion of Pentecost with a keen and incisive intellect. I will never forget how in a moment of prophetic insight he brought healing and restoration to an issue that had divided the Japanese church.”

We thank God for Pastor Jack’s life and witness and pray that his example will inspire many to seek first God’s Kingdom.

Majesty, worship His Majesty.
Unto Jesus be all glory, honor and praise!
Majesty, Kingdom Authority,
Flow from His throne, unto His own
His anthem raise!

A tribute by Rev. Dr. Ed & Janice Hird—Co-authors, God’s Firestarters

Getting 2023 Off to a Great Start

08 Sunday Jan 2023

Posted by davidkitz in Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

2023, devotional, Devotions, Prayer, worship

Are you looking for a devotional to help you get 2023 off to a great start? Do you want to develop and grow in prayer and worship? The Psalms lay out a biblical framework to help us grow in these spiritual disciplines.

God uses vessels in his hands to touch us exactly where and when we need it most. In our own experience, David’s daily insights from Psalms have been great. Not just in an educational sense, though that too, but his devotions touch us right where we need it. And often, it’s a word we can then share with a friend in need in a timely manner. Online and now in book form, both are a blessing!

Pastors Marjorie and Akihiro Mizuno
Christian Life International, Nagoya, Japan

RGB300Kitz2AWARD

The main body parts for reading the Bible aren’t the eyes and brain; it’s the hands and feet. This theme is woven throughout Psalms 365. As it should be! The focus on living the Word, or as James puts it, “doing it” (James 1:25) is what makes this study in the Psalms top-notch.

Dr. Lawson Murray
President, Scripture Union Canada
Low Rez PsalmsVol2SEAlOver the years the psalms have become a great source of hope. David Kitz’s devotions are a great accompaniment to them. I find his writing both insightful and uplifting.

Alan Kearns
Glenrothes, Scotland

Psalms 365 vol 3

For further details on Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer, Volumes I, II & III click here.

Everything That Has Breath

01 Sunday Jan 2023

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 150

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

breath, Creator, praise, praise the LORD, worship

Reading: Psalm 150
Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD (NIV). *

Roses 2021-06-05

Roses courtesy of Joshua Kitz

Reflection
We have reached the crescendo—the conclusion and the high point of the Book of Psalms. Hallelujah and praise the LORD!

The word praise appears thirteen times in this final psalm. The number thirteen is suggestive of Jesus and his apostles. He is at the core—the very center of God ordained worship.

Eight forms or instruments of praise are listed in this psalm. Eight is the number of new beginnings. Seven suggests completeness, so we see that God rested on the seventh day. But eight signals a new start. In the same way, these eight means or instruments of praise do not represent a complete list. They simply suggest the varied ways in which we can express our praise to the LORD. We have only just begun to discover and explore the many ways in which we can show our gratitude to our Creator.

No one—no living being—is excluded from this call to praise. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

This call for all the breathing to praise the LORD is truly fitting. We received our original breath from the LORD. Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (Genesis 2:7). Now with our breath—our God-given breath—let us praise our Maker.

In the same way after his resurrection Jesus breathed on his disciples.  Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:21-22).

We need the breath of God in us—the breath of the Holy Spirit in us to live—to truly live in the overcoming power and joy of the psalms. For the Holy Spirit’s presence, I will praise the LORD!

Response: LORD God, I praise you. You are my strength and my song. Help me to discover new ways to praise you because you are good. Let my entire life reflect your redemptive presence in me. Amen.

Your Turn: Is praising God an integral part of your purpose? Is it as natural for you as breathing?

Praying you experience an abundance of God’s grace, mercy and love in 2023.

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

BGBG_v4.3_150[1818]

Your prayers for the people of Ukraine are making a difference.

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild, and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

It’s Not about Me

30 Friday Dec 2022

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 149, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Heart, praise, worship

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.

Psalm 149_1-5
Reading: Psalm 149:1-5

LORD God,
renew in me a heart of praise.
I want to lose my self-consciousness as I praise you.
This is all about you.
True worship is not about me.
I want to praise you with my whole being.
Amen.

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

BGBG_v4.3_150[1818]

Your prayers for the people of Ukraine are making a difference.

Start 2023 with a new devotional series. Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild, and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.
Vol III 2021-07-17 at 8.15.36 AM

Fresh and Creative Praise

30 Friday Dec 2022

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 149, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

dancing, praise, praise the LORD, worship

Reading: Psalm 149:1-5
Praise the LORD.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.
Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD takes delight in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.
Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor
and sing for joy on their beds (NIV). *

img_20221217_1705486

on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16b).

Reflection
I previously wrote that as we draw to the end of the Book of Psalms, we are slowly building to a crescendo of praise to the LORD. Today’s reading from Psalm 149 expands and amps up the level of praise.

For some praise to the LORD is one dimensional. It involves singing a hymn or worship chorus to the LORD in a place of worship at a designated time. Usually this simply means in church on a Sunday morning. But praise that is birthed by the Spirit of God can be much more than just that. Psalm 149 calls for a wide range of praise. It begins by calling for a new song. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.

It would seem the Creator would like to hear something fresh and creative. That’s so much like Him. After all, His mercies are new every morning. See Lamentations 3:22-23. Now don’t get me wrong. There is a place for the tried and true, and the old and familiar. But genuine praise is like fresh homemade bread. It’s best served warm from the oven. Stale worship invigorates no one.

Secondly, our praise for the LORD can take a variety of forms. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.

Just yesterday I watched a couple do a beautiful dance to a popular worship chorus. The words, the music, and their expressive movements, added heartfelt meaning to their praise. God was glorified in their dance. We were created to move, and our posture and movements can reflect an expressive exuberance for God.

Finally, Spirit initiated praise knows no bounds. It refuses to be confined to a church building. It is after all an outward expression of a thankful heart. There is a place for praise, wherever we find ourselves, whether it’s on a park bench, a subway car, or as we stroll down the grocery aisle. Praise the LORD!

Response: LORD God, renew in me a heart of praise. I want to lose my self-consciousness as I praise you. This is all about you. True worship is not about me. I want to praise you with my whole being. Amen.

Your Turn: Is it possible to be God focused when we are self-focused or self-conscious? How can you change your disposition in worship?

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

BGBG_v4.3_150[1818]

Your prayers for the people of Ukraine are making a difference.

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild, and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

 

For the Rest of My Life

16 Friday Dec 2022

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 146

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

eternal life, gift of life, Jesus, life, worship

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.

Psalm 146_1-2
Reading: Psalm 146:1-5

LORD God,
I thank and praise you for the gift of life.
You are worthy of worship.
I commit to worshipping you every day
for the rest of my life.
Thank you for eternal life through Jesus.
Amen.

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

BGBG_v4.3_150[1818]

Your prayers for the people of Ukraine are making a difference.

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild, and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.
Vol III 2021-07-17 at 8.15.36 AM

 

Why I Visit with God in the Psalms Every Day

26 Saturday Nov 2022

Posted by davidkitz in Psalms, Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Devotions, hope, Prayer, Psalms, worship

Why dig into the Psalms?

Perhaps Christian humorist Phil Callaway of www.laughagain.org provides the best answer in his endorsement of Psalms 365:

I’m not certain I’d be alive without the Psalms. While my wife was losing her family to Huntington’s disease we lived in its inspiring pages. We still do. David’s devotional is a welcome companion on this journey, particularly for those needing a fresh shot of hope. 

In a world of disease and political and economic turmoil, more than ever, we need the hope and encouragement the Psalms can bring. These daily devotions provide the hope and encouragement we all need to live out our faith.

Psalms 365 is specifically designed to help you develop a life of worship and prayer like the biblical David. Let award-winning author David Kitz take you on a journey—a journey to a deeper understanding of God’s will and his ways for your life. Each daily reading provides insight and inspiration for practical Christian living, allowing the Good Shepherd to guide you to the center of his will.

For a closer look at Psalms 365, Volumes I, II & III click here.
Vol III 2021-07-17 at 8.15.36 AM

Praise the LORD

01 Tuesday Nov 2022

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 135

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Jesus, praise the LORD, Savior, worship

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.

Psalm 135_3
Reading: Psalm 135:1-7

Father God,
 I worship you.
Thank you for sending Jesus to be my Savior.
Holy Spirit,
infuse my praise and worship with joy.
You are so very good—
so very kind to me.
Let praise in all its varied forms
flow from me to you.
Amen.

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

BGBG_v4.3_150[1818]

Please pray for the people of Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild, and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here. 

A Praiseworthy Prescription

01 Tuesday Nov 2022

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 135, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

praise, praise the LORD, selfishness, worship

Reading: Psalm 135:1-7
Praise the LORD.
Praise the name of the LORD;
praise him, you servants of the L
ORD,
you who minister in the house of the L
ORD,
in the courts of the house of our God.
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
For the L
ORD has chosen Jacob to be his own,
Israel to be his treasured possession.
I know that the LORD is great,
that our Lord is greater than all gods.
The L
ORD does whatever pleases him,
in the heavens and on the earth,
in the seas and all their depths.
He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth;
he sends lightning with the rain
and brings out the wind from his storehouses
(NIV). *

img_20221015_1008095

His praiseworthy creation — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
Like many of the psalms, Psalm 135 begins by calling us to worship. Specifically, this is a call to praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.

So, what is the difference between praise and worship? Worship is a broad term that expresses itself in a variety of ways. The Encarta Dictionary defines worship as “the adoration, devotion, and respect given to a deity.”

We can show devotion, adoration, and respect for God in wide range of ways. We can use our bodies to express worship by bowing, kneeling, falling prostrate, or lifting our hands and faces heavenward. We read that both David and Miriam danced before the LORD as an act of worship. See 2 Samuel 6:13-15 and Exodus 15:20-21.

Praise and thanksgiving are verbal forms of worship that reflect a heart of adoration. But why do the Psalms call on us to praise God so frequently? Is the LORD a grand, heavenly egomaniac who demands our worship to satisfy His desire for recognition and importance? Hardly.

Actually, just the opposite is true. God does not need our worship. We are the egomaniacs. Praise and worship counteract the selfishness that is at the root of our sinful nature. We desperately need to get our eyes off ourselves and onto the One who is worthy of all praise. So here to counter what ails us is a simple but powerful prescription from your heavenly Father: Praise the LORD.

Response: Father God, I worship you. Thank you for sending Jesus to be my Savior. Holy Spirit, infuse my praise and worship with joy. You are so very good—so very kind to me. Let praise in all its varied forms flow from me to you. Amen.

Your Turn: What forms or expressions of worship are most meaningful to you? Why are they meaningful?

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

BGBG_v4.3_150[1818]

Please pray for the people of Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild, and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here. 

Priced to Sell

29 Saturday Oct 2022

Posted by davidkitz in Books by David Kitz

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

devotional, Devotions, Prayer, Psalms, worship

I can’t pretend to understand Amazon pricing, but I can recognize a bargain when I see one. Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer, Volume II is currently on sale for $6.83 on Amazon.com. That’s slightly less than half price.
Low Rez PsalmsVol2SEAl
Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer, Volume II recently won the 2022 Devotional Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild. Perhaps that’s why it’s being featured. 

The other two volumes in the three-volume set remain at the regular price. 

As an author I believe the endorsement from Phil Callaway is an added blessing:

I’m not certain I’d be alive without the Psalms. While my wife was losing her family to Huntington’s disease, we lived in its inspiring pages. We still do. David’s devotional is a welcome companion on this journey, particularly for those needing a fresh shot of hope.
—Phil Callaway, award-winning author & Christian humorist, http://www.laughagain.org

For further details on Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer, Volume II click here.

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