“You’re gonna have to worship your way through.”
It really wasn’t even part of the sermon. Pastor Joby Martin was just recounting a conversation with a staff member walking through a hard time, and that was his advice.
The Lord God, Yahweh, Adonai, Elohim. He is the same today, yesterday and forever. And he is always worthy of worship.
So infinitely worthy.
Ironically, I think one of the greatest gifts of walking through hard times is the raw, unfiltered beauty of God that our eyes can open to. Suffering seems to have a way of stripping away certain layers and unveiling the extravagance of His goodness. He is always beautiful, and he is always good.
Sometimes, it’s just hard for us to see.
I pray regularly for God to correct my view of him. But what I usually want is a list of his attributes, a better understanding of scripture, or insight from profound teaching. And that’s great. And necessary. But lists and knowledge alone don’t change our hearts. They don’t change what we love.
Instead, God has a way of showing us himself through experience. Through relationship, he connects what he has revealed in scripture to our souls. He opens our eyes to see him seeing us.
I can write until my fingertips go numb. I can share until no one in the world wants to read another post. And I plan to do both.
But my prayer, my purpose in writing and sharing anything is to inspire worship. That each reader would walk away amazed by God. That you would draw near to the Lord and know him yourself. That you would celebrate the God who made you, the God who exists in all power, all glory, all majesty. That your affections might be stirred to love the God who first loved you.
He died to save you. To graft you into his family. That you might enjoy him. Forever.
I can write about his goodness. I can write about his sovereignty. I can write about his presence. And I pray each post pointed you deeper. But no one else can worship for you.
So go.
Lift your hands to the heavens and praise the Lord of heaven and earth. Praise him for who he is. Praise him for what he’s done. Praise him for his promises fulfilled and promises awaiting fulfillment. Praise him for his timing, for his faithfulness, for his holiness. Celebrate the Lord, and delight in him.
Worship him today, worship him tomorrow. Your whole life, in the good times and bad, worship your way through.
—–
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord from the heavens,
Praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels,
Praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon,
Praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he commanded and they were created…
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
-Psalm 148
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” – Mark 12:29-30
Read out loud, loudly: Psalm 145
Keep reading: Psalm 146 – 150
Psalm 116:12-14
Psalm 86:5-13
—–
Soaking in the Son 