Isaiah 29:1-14

by Whitey | Sep 14, 2012 | Thoughts, Uncategorized

‘The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.’ (Isaiah 29:13 NIV)

What an easy mistake to make! How often do we find ourselves going through the motions of church attendance, devotions, rituals and rules, without actually connecting with God through these things? How often do we follow man-made rules and do at the expense of following Jesus’ teaching and example of love?

Thus is another great reminder if what true worship looks like. It’s not about rules or rituals; it’s about love. It’s not about ourselves; it’s about Jesus.

Isaiah 26:1-27:1

by Whitey | Sep 10, 2012 | Thoughts, Uncategorized

“Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws,we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” (v.8)

What a great expression of worship — worship as not just words or songs or rituals, but as a lifestyle. To honor God with our time, money, possessions, relationships, priorities… That is true worship. Am I worshiping God in this way? With all of me? Or am I merely being religious?

“My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you.” (v 9)

How often is God my last thought at night and my first thought in the morning? If I’m honest, there are a lot of times when other stuff gets my attention and I don’t start or end the day with God on my mind at all. How often do I actually long for Him?

But this is the kind of relationship I want to have with God. To long for Him, to desire to talk with Him, for Him to be my first and last thought each day. For Him to distract me from other stuff rather than that stuff taking my attention off of Him… That is true worship.