Blessings & Battlefields: Let’s Grab for Gratitude!Sample

Day Four

Worship

God clearly tells us in Philippians 3 that our true citizenship is in heaven, with Him. After we accept Jesus as our Savior by declaring with our mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believing in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, according to Romans 10:9, we will be saved and forgiven. Then we will spend our earthly lives and our eternal lives, worshipping the One true God. He is our “Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End (Rev. 22:13).”

Worship is a strong and powerful word. Although there are several Greek words relating to the word “worship,” Proskuneo is widely used. Its meaning is to fall face down in adoration, or to lower oneself in humble, deep respect for the divine. It is a kneeling down before God, submitting.

Let’s play the second and final “Word Association Game…” What is the FIRST word you think of when you hear the word “Worship?”

After polling the same group of people for their responses to the word Gratitude, here are some of their responses to the word “Worship:” Praise, God, Devotion, Song, Adoration, Love, Singing, Gift, Team or Leader, Grateful, Christian music, Honor, Reverence, and Glory!

Did your word match any of the ones listed? I’m guessing it was close if not right on target. Think of the countless ways we can Worship. Think of the ways you enjoy worshipping. Think how differently you may worship now than in a different season of your life. God’s creation is simply spectacular, right down to the creativity He gives each of us in our personal forms of worshipping Him. What a glorious scene – us communally worshipping Him, now and forever. Worshipping our Lord and Savior is a natural and simple way for us to Grab for Gratitude.

No matter the words we associate with the word “Worship” or the way in which we Worship, it is the attitude of our heart that matters. For God tells us in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

May our hearts be pure, Worshipping our gracious God.

Conversely, what is the opposite of worship? How would you describe the opposite of worship for you? Anger, walking away from a relationship with Jesus, not going to church, making unhealthy daily choices, or maybe thinking more highly of ourselves than we should? Romans 12:3 says, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

Worshipping may come easily for some of us, but it might also be helpful to check ourselves occasionally to see if we might possibly be taking actions that are anti-worship. In those times, we must remember the character of God. He is loving, caring, relational, and trusting. He carries us by His right hand. He gave His one and only son to come serve and rescue us.

While on earth, Jesus took the time to worship God. He would go to the hills alone and pray. He would rest in God, walk with God, and give God praise. As Jesus is preparing his disciples and all believers for his crucifixion, He worships God. John 17:1 tells us: “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.’”

If Jesus gave thanks, how can we not? How can we not worship and grab for incessant and never-ending Gratitude to our Heavenly Father God?

One of the easiest ways to start our days with a pure heart of Gratitude is to keep a thankful journal. There was a time when I was forcing myself to continue keeping my daily thankful journals. My heart seemed almost burdened by the task, so I laid it down for a few months. There are times when even in our Worship, we need to check our heart posture. There are times when we need to give ourselves grace, as Jesus freely gives to us.

Recently, God graciously reminded me that keeping my daily thankful journal is one way I can start my days by worshipping Him. My heart literally leapt for joy to add the journal back into my days! My pure heart posture was restored, and now again, I start each day prayerfully and praise-fully giving Him thanks.

One of the greatest forms of Worship is Gratitude to our Lord and Savior.

The fight for Gratitude is never-ending. It can be light at times and heavy at others, but the need for us to be thankful never goes away. We can be thankful in every area of our lives, like for our breath each morning, the sunrise, the sunset, and even for the rain. We can be grateful for our food, our time, waking up from a surgery, and for the miracles God allows us to witness. We grab for Gratitude every single time we Worship our glorious God. Walking in Gratitude is such a beautiful life. It allows our forgiven and freed loving heart to connect like a gold string to God’s loving heart.

The greatest way to Grab for Gratitude is simply to Grab for God.

Let’s pray:

Father God, let us humbly come before you each and every day in complete adoration. May our lives be a written tapestry of devotion to You. Help us to honor, cherish, and glorify You in all we think, say, and do. Heavenly God, cleanse our lives, minds, and actions so we can be of pure heart, worshipping You completely. Help us to be giving and gracious as Jesus was and is. Even when we are gripped with grief, show us where we can find gratitude if we just gently grab for You. Lead us to be in awe of You, give, believe in Your fullness, and worship You. Teach us to grab for gratitude and be a light unto Your Kingdom.

In Your Holy name,

Amen

Questions to Ponder:

1) Is there something or someone we bow down to in adoration that is NOT God?

2) Have you ever humbly lowered yourself to the feet of Jesus and to God’s altar?

What was it like? How did you feel?

3) How do you usually Worship God?

4) Name one new way you can Worship our Lord.

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