Worship
Scripture
What did Jesus say about praise and worship in Luke 19:40?
He [Jesus] answered, “I tell you, if these [people] were silent, the very donkeys would cry out.”
Whoa! Donkeys?
Well, of course not. Jesus said the very stones will cry out. But I do have a donkey tale, recalling a childhood memory.
I was in junior high, and my Daddy pastored a country church situated at the intersection of two dusty gravel roads in southeast Louisiana. The church building was under construction, so we met in the open-air, only a roof overhead covering the yet-unwalled structure.
Across the road from the church was a pen where a farmer kept a donkey. One Sunday morning in congregational singing, as members raised an old-time hymn in exuberant open-air chorus, that donkey across the road caught the spirit and began noisily braying: “HEE-HAW, HEE-HAW.” Over and over, loudly, the donkey brayed, as if he understood the need to hoist a joyful noise unto the Lord. Afterward, we laughed well at the donkey’s “spirit-filled” antics. We had witnessed a true Psalms 103 moment: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”
The point of recalling this episode in the context of today’s reading is to recognize, beyond chuckling over an amusing tale, the importance of music in worship, as well as the importance of those who lead our music. We needn’t look beyond the magnificent collection of liturgical hymns and songs in the Psalms to understand how important musicians were in ancient Israel. The importance of their role is noted in I Chronicles 9, where the musicians were assigned a privileged designation in the temple and were “exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night.”
We should remember the committed musicians who lead our worship today, for they are likewise important. Our church’s gifted amateur musicians invest hours of personal time in preparation and practice for each service. The polished musical product that comes together on Sunday mornings is the result of their faithful stewardship of talent.
Let us, then, give thanks two-fold: (1) for the God-instilled impulse for music that heightens and brightens our worship, and (2) for skilled musicians who lead us in song and praise.
Prayer
HONOR GOD
The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end, For His compassions do not fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB
Thank you Lord that I wake up everyday with more than I deserve, let me honor you with all that you’ve given me
ASK GOD
Everything you pray for with the fullness of faith you will receive!
Matthew 21:22 TPT
Faith moves everything in you into alignment to receive what you are believing for. Honor the Lord with the fullness of your faith.
SUBMIT TO GOD
Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33
Lord I put your glory and priorities over mine and trust that you still provide all that I need each day.
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, life is complicated! But You guide me through everything and even when I miss the mark, You show me mercy and teach me something new. Thank You for Your forgiveness and that Your mercies are new every morning. In Jesus Name, Amen