Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of the only true God, the one who is unparalleled in all His ways. Below is the next segment in my study on praying during trials. I found this to be very thought-provoking.
Category Four - Worship
“Then Job arose,
and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and
worshiped, and said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I
return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the
name of the LORD” (Job 1:20-21). After his initial round of horrific trials, Job
worshiped God. In the end, Job worshiped again by recognizing God’s omnipotence
and His unstoppable plan and purpose. “I know that thou canst do every thing,
and that no thought can be withholden from thee” (Job 42:2). “Father, I
thankfully accept all Your blessings when You choose to give them, and I acknowledge
Your ability to do everything You choose to do.”
In II Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat faced an enormous military threat. He immediately “set himself to seek the LORD” (v. 3). When he led the people in prayer, he worshiped: “Art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee” (v. 6). He expressed his absolute dependence on his mighty God. “We have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee” (v. 12). The next day, as he obeyed God’s instruction to go out and watch God’s salvation, he “appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever’” (v. 21). Even as they faced the enemy, they worshiped God with songs and praises. “Father, I humbly admit my dependence on Your greatness, and I willingly choose to do whatever You instruct for me.”
The psalms are filled with this determination to worship even in difficult times. As an example, in Psalm 7, David discusses the unwarranted threat brought against him by Cush. He prays for God’s help, but even before David sees deliverance, he declares, “I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high” (v. 17). Likewise, many of the other psalms, although they describe terrific suffering, close with similar statements of worship. “Father, I admiringly acknowledge Your magnificence, and I praise You for all that You are.”
These three Old Testament examples demonstrate aspects of worship. In the midst of suffering, these three men chose to focus on God and on who He is, and their focus on this great God impacted their words and actions. Their worship included acknowledgement that God can discern when to bless and when to withhold, exaltation of God’s characteristics, dependence of frail humans upon a great God, obedience to relevant and timely direction, singing of God’s greatness, and thanks for the characteristics of God. In essence, worship is admitting that man is nothing and God is everything, and then responding accordingly in word and action to that realization.
Worship demonstrates our determination to magnify and honor God even in the midst of what is difficult. In spite of suffering, we are still saying that He is great. We are still demonstrating that He deserves our devotion and service. Worship is deliberate, not incidental. Sometimes it means that we choose to think or say or do something when it is not what we want to think or say or do. Due to the demands, disillusionment, or discouragement of our suffering, we might not want to read the Bible, meditate, pray, go to church, teach Sunday school, sing in the choir, serve others, give a testimony, etc., but worship is choosing to do so anyway. Perhaps the most poignant act of worship is to resolutely determine to continue following God when we are tempted to turn away from a God whose actions we do not like or understand.
Our choices to honor, exalt, serve, and follow God demonstrate that we believe He is worthy. These choices reveal our determination to do things we would rather not do simply because we know they honor Him. This is the spirit of Romans 12:1, which calls us to “present [our] bodies a living sacrifice,” which is a reasonable service of worship. “Father, I long to say and do the right thing and to follow You even when it is hard, because I know that it pleases You.”
The New Testament provides numerous foundations for worshipful statements in the context of suffering. These aspects of God’s greatness, revealed during suffering, provide content for our worship. God’s love transcends all types of suffering (Romans 8:35-39). God’s faithfulness supports and delivers us in what seems too hard (I Corinthians 10:13). God’s power keeps our weak earthly vessels from being utterly crushed (II Corinthians 4:7-11). God’s grace is sufficient to shine forth in our weakness (II Corinthians 12:7-10). Jesus’ example encourages us to look beyond the pain (Hebrews 12:2). God’s discipline shows that He loves us, claims us, and is training us (Hebrews 12:7-11). God’s transforming work is accomplished as He graciously and personally intervenes in our suffering (I Peter 5:8-10). “Father, I praise You for Your transcendent love, Your constant faithfulness, Your protecting power, Your strengthening grace, Your encouraging example, Your purposeful training, and Your gracious transformation.”
God’s desired result for our “fiery trial” is ultimately for the purpose of our rejoicing at the time when Christ receives the fullest revelation of glory (I Peter 4:12-13). There is a day coming when God will receive glory and exultation because of the outcome of our suffering, and we are able to do that to some extent as we choose to worship Him even now. “Father, I recognize that even in this situation of suffering, You are still worthy of all my praise and service. Even during this time, I want to give You my devotion personally, and I want to exalt You before others publicly.”
May God bless you as you serve Him this week as an act of worship, and may He give you other souls who will join with you in recognizing and serving our great God.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
No comments:
Post a Comment