Tuesday 21 Jan 2014

Tuesday Reading: Psalm 100:1-5

Key Verse: Psalm 100:2
Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.

Devotion:
It is wonderful to be able to sing out our praises to God openly in the United Kingdom; I know there are many places out there in the world where people are discouraged from praising God, discouraged from attending church or even banned from doing so. My heart goes out to you. But be encouraged by being able to read verses like these and to sing out in your heart; just because nobody else will hear you does not mean that God will not hear you! If you are on your way to work and fear that people will get upset by you singing to our Lord, then sing in your heart because that will reach God!

Our prayers do not have to be a mass congregational thing. Our songs do not have to be sung out loud. Our worship can be solitary and hidden from sight. God is not after a public display of what you can do but a heartfelt personal link between you and Him. God wants to know you and not to have to listen to you… I know my singing is not the best, but when I lift up my voice to Him it comes from deep in my heart and I know that He loves that!

We need to make our praises cheerful as well! So many people get caught up in trying to make their time with God as solemn as possible rather than as joyful as possible. God is after a truthful relationship and not a “very proper action”; He would rather hear from your heart than from a book. I find it very difficult to be encouraged by someone who is talking to me in a monotone voice because it does not sound like they are putting their hearts into it; but when someone talks to me instead of reading to me; I find it far more encouraging.

We do have many reasons to praise God and they should not be kept under a bushel or hidden in a box; but equally they should not be put on parade just so that others can see what you are up to. If you want to put your worship on parade then you must do so because that is how you want to worship God and not because that is how someone else will see you. Yes I am guilty of that as well, but I also know that my heart sings for joy when I praise my God!

Points to Ponder:
How do you think God sees your worship?

Are you worshipping from your heart?