Day lilies — photo by David Kitz
Come to Worship
31 Sunday Jul 2016
Posted in Psalms, Sunday's Psalm
Tag Archives: worship
Receiving the Land
07 Thursday Jul 2016
Posted in Psalms, Thursday's Thought
Tags
You will show the right path to all who worship you. They will have plenty, and then their children will receive the land (Psalm 25:12-13, CEV).
Tulip beds, Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is land.
Are you waiting for your inheritance? Actually, as sons and daughters of the King, we have an eternal inheritance that will be coming our way. We have a promised land that is ours to possess. Today’s verse from the Psalms is a direct promise from the LORD:
You will show the right path to all who worship you. They will have plenty, and then their children will receive the land (Psalm 25:12-13, CEV).
Old Testament Israel was promised a land flowing with milk and honey—a rich inheritance. But there are conditions attached to receiving the promises of God. Israel did not simply waltz in and possess the land they were promised. They had to fight for it. Yes, the LORD fought with them, but in return He expected their love, obedience and worship.
The same principles apply to believers today. The LORD will show the right path to all who worship Him. The LORD may show us the right path, but we must be willing to take it—to walk down that path—His chosen path for our lives.
Response: LORD God, show me the right path. I worship you with my whole heart. Give me a willing heart to enter into your promises that come through a life of love, faith and humble obedience. Amen.
Your Turn: Are you entering into your inheritance?
Nations Bow Down
30 Thursday Jun 2016
Posted in Psalms, Thursday's Thought
You created each nation, and they will all bow down to worship and honor you (Psalm 86:9, CEV).
Petrie Island Park, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is bowing.
Before he ascended into heaven Jesus gave his disciples this command:
“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world” (Matthew 28:18-20, CEV).
Jesus promised he would be present and engaged with us as we spread the good news of his death and resurrection among the nations. In Psalm 86 we also have the promise that our mission will be successful.
You created each nation, and they will all bow down to worship and honor you (Psalm 86:9, CEV).
In this dark world Jesus and the gospel message shine as a light—a light the world and the imps of hell cannot extinguish. As we face the future, we can have great confidence because each nation will bow down to worship and honor you.
Response: LORD God, help me to do my part to bring your gospel message to the nations. I bow before you knowing that all over the world others too will bow to worship you. Amen.
Your Turn: How are you fulfilling Christ’s final command?
He Keeps His Promises
25 Saturday Jun 2016
Posted in Psalms, Saturday's Psalm
Creator of Nations
21 Tuesday Jun 2016
Posted in Psalms, Tuesday's Truth
You created each nation, and they will all bow down to worship and honor you (Psalm 86:9, CEV).
Shinkansen (Bullet Train), Nagoya, Japan — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is creation.
There’s an old saying that I heard as a child. It goes like this, “God created the world, but the Dutch created Holland.”
There is an element of human pride in that statement, but there’s also a measure of truth in those words. A good deal of the Netherlands is below sea level, but by building huge dikes and drainage systems the Dutch have been able to claim the land they live on from the sea.
Today’s reading from the Psalms states that God is the creator of every nation. Nations are God’s idea. He establishes them.
You created each nation, and they will all bow down to worship and honor you (Psalm 86:9, CEV).
Every nation takes pride in its accomplishments—the Dutch in their land reclamation, the Japanese in their ultra fast rail system, America in its military prowess. But there is a time coming when they will all bow down to worship and honor the LORD. That is a day we should all be looking forward to with expectant joy. What a privilege we have to worship Him now in advance of that great day!
Response: LORD God, my first allegiance is not to my country. My first allegiance is to you, my Creator—the Creator of nations. I want to worship and honor you today. Amen.
Your Turn: Are you proud of your country? Does that pride come ahead of your allegiance to the Lord?
How great is God’s love?
11 Saturday Jun 2016
Posted in Psalms
Wild Marsh Irises, Petrie Island Park, ON — photo by Karen Kitz
How great is God’s love for all
who worship him?
Greater than the distance
between heaven and earth!
(Psalm 103:11, CEV)
Sweet Satisfaction!
08 Friday Apr 2016
Posted in Friday's Focus, Psalms
Tags
The poor will eat and be full, and all who worship you will be thankful and live in hope (Psalm 22:26, CEV).
Hidden Cove, Ottawa River — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is hunger.
We hunger to be satisfied. That’s what hunger is all about, a desire to be satisfied. A full belly and a contented heart fit together like bacon and eggs or toast and jam.
Satisfaction and contentment are at the core of today’s verse from the Psalms.
The poor will eat and be full, and all who worship you will be thankful and live in hope (Psalm 22:26, CEV).
When our needs are met, worship and gratitude become the natural outflow from a contented heart. We experience inner peace because we dwell in hope. The God who has satisfied our needs in the past will continue to do just that in the future. There is a sweet satisfaction in knowing the ongoing faithfulness of God.
Response: LORD God, I set my eyes on you. You have been more than faithful. Daily you have satisfied the desires of my heart. I give you thanks because you are good. Amen.
Your Turn: Are you content with the goodness God has shown to you?
The Fruit of Forgiveness
18 Friday Mar 2016
Posted in Friday's Focus, Psalms
But you forgive us, and so we will worship you (Psalm 130:4, CEV).
Plum Blossoms, Nagoya, Japan — photo courtesy of Matthew Taylor
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is forgiveness.
Worship is the fruit of forgiveness. Those who have been forgiven by God worship God. Jesus said this of a sinful woman, “So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love” (Luke 7:47, CEV).
Jesus forgave this woman’s sins and so she poured out her love to him by kissing his feet and washing them with her tears.
Our heartfelt worship is our expression of love for God. Today’s verse from the Psalms captures this thought succinctly.
But you forgive us, and so we will worship you (Psalm 130:4, CEV).
Forgiveness is like a heaven-sent love potion. It restores our relationship with God and draws us into His arms of love.
Response: LORD God, a thousand words of thanks are not enough. Your forgiveness draws me to worship you with a grateful heart. I praise you, LORD of heaven and earth. Amen.
Your Turn: Does God’s forgiveness move you to worship?
Glory in the Place of Worship
25 Thursday Feb 2016
Posted in Psalms, Thursday's Thought
I have seen your power and your glory in the place of worship (Psalm 63:2, CEV).
Ottawa Cathedral – photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is glory.
This is David’s heartfelt statement of fact, “I have seen your power and your glory in the place of worship” (Psalm 63:2, CEV).
I stand in full agreement with David’s profession. I too can say I have seen God’s power and glory in the place of worship. I have seen God visibly at work in the lives of his people as they gather for worship. I have sensed his presence with me at church.
The great pity is that there are many who have not encountered God–truly experienced His power and glory in the place of worship. Transformation occurs when we show up and the LORD shows up. It’s His power and His glory that change us, not a hymn or a sermon, though those have their place. But they fall flat unless we meet God in them.
Our prayer should always be to have our eyes opened to the glory of God in the place of worship.
Response: LORD God, open my eyes to you. I want to see you. I want others to see you. I need to be changed by your presence in my life and my place of worship. Amen.
Your Turn: Is there something you do that makes you more aware of God?
His Holy Name
15 Friday Jan 2016
Posted in Friday's Focus, Psalms
Tags
Celebrate and worship his holy name with all your heart (Psalm 105:3, CEV).
Frosted beauty — photo by Donald Adam
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is holiness.
Here’s a quick question for you. Do you like celebrations?
If you answered, yes, then you should love being around God. He loves wholehearted celebrations. Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us of this aspect of God’s character. Celebrate and worship his holy name with all your heart (Psalm 105:3, CEV).
After telling the parable about finding the lost coin, Jesus reminds us that heaven is a place of celebration. Jesus said, “In the same way God’s angels are happy when even one person turns to him” (Luke 15:10, CEV).
If you have turned from a life of sin to worship your holy Creator, you have a heaven full of reasons to celebrate. Why not start today?
Response: LORD God, I praise you because you found me and took me into your family. I celebrate your goodness and undeserved kindness. Amen.
Your Turn: What do you do to celebrate God’s love?
