The Power of a Praying Mom by ARLENE PELLICANE

“Then Hannah prayed and said: ‘My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance.’” 1 Samuel 2:1 (NIV)

I wanted to pinch myself as we drove home from the hospital. The police officer at the accident had said, “When we hear bike vs. car, we just cringe because of what it can mean.”

Hours earlier, my 7-year-old son Ethan was riding his bike with his little sister and my husband. As Ethan made a wide right turn in our quiet neighborhood, he expected the road to be empty. The approaching driver immediately stepped on the brake, but not before Ethan plowed right into his front bumper. The ambulance arrived before I could get there. Approaching that scene was one of the scariest moments of my life.

I began to pray.

Ethan was lying on the road softly crying, but his helmet looked normal, and he wasn’t bleeding anywhere. I told him not to worry because God was with him. By the end of that sobering day, my little second-grader was discharged from the hospital with a few bruises but nothing else wrong with him!

I praised and thanked God because He’d completely protected Ethan from injury. He answered my prayers for my son!

Hannah in the Old Testament was thankful too, because God answered her prayers, opening her barren womb, giving her a son. When God delivers us, we must remember to express our thanks. Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2 focuses on God’s greatness, not her little Samuel’s cuteness. It reminds me that the God who blesses is greater than the blessing itself.

We read in 1 Samuel 2:1-2, “Then Hannah prayed and said: ‘My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.’”

One of the best gifts we can give children is the gift of prayer. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. You have a Heavenly Father who’s eager to answer. I’m still praying for my son Ethan who now rides his bicycle to high school. It’s hard to believe he’s grown so much! The streets are much bigger than they were years ago, and his needs are much greater. As children grow into adults, they need our prayers more than ever.

Not only prayers for physical protection, but more importantly, spiritual protection for their minds and hearts. Most parents are filled with questions like: Will my child do well in school? Will they try drugs or have sex? What kind of person will they marry? Will they still choose to follow God after high school? Are they becoming addicted to video games or social media? Let’s take all our questions to God through prayer.

Exchange your worries about your child’s future for praise. The future may be uncertain, but God is unchanging and fully capable of taking care of your child. Hannah praised God in the temple where she was leavingyoung Samuel for a life of service to God. She’d promised if God gave her a child, she would give him to serve God in the temple. She made good on her promise because God had made good on His.

Can God be trusted with our children? Absolutely! Does God always answer our prayers? Yes — although not always in the way (or timing) we desire. When children are away from home, we can pray but we need not worry. After all, God can take care of them much better than we can.

Lord Jesus, You are good. Please protect my children and deliver them from evil. Use them as a witness to their friends. May they grow strong and mighty in You filled with Your joy and compassion for others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY: Acts 17:28, “For in him we live and move and have our being.” (NIV)

Kill The Spider by CARLOS WHITTAKER

“Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.’” Matthew 19:26 (NLT)

I was on my way to a week of therapy to find out why I just couldn’t get over “the hump.”

Seven days with 40 strangers and no cell phone.

Lord, come quickly. Seven days.

So I called my dad to tell him I’d be MIA for a few days while I was on this “retreat.” Retreat sounded so much softer than therapy.

“Can I tell you a story?” he asked.

“I have 10 minutes. Can you make it quick?”

Then, like a phenomenal voice-over in some epic movie, my dad spoke:

“When I was early in my ministry in Panama, I was preaching a three-day revival in a small church by the ocean. That first night I preached mi corazon [my heart] out. I preached hard and loud. Many were touched by God. Toward the end of the invitation, Ms. Ramirez stood up. She made her way to the center aisle and walked very slowly toward the front. When she finally got to me, I asked why she had come forward. Her answer was simple.

“‘Pastor, I need you to pray that the Lord cleans the cobwebs out of my life. I have so many cobwebs. Could you please pray?’ she asked me.

“And so I obliged. I prayed that the Lord would clean the cobwebs out of her life. She thanked me and went on her way. On night two of the revival I saw her get up again — Ms. Ramirez. And she came walking down the aisle with a little more certainty.

“‘Pastor, could you pray again? Could you please pray again that the Lord cleans the cobwebs out of my life?’ she asked.

“I reminded her I had prayed the night before for this very thing, and that the Lord would honor our prayer. But she insisted I pray again. And so I did.

“Son, listen to me. The last night of the revival — I couldn’t believe it — she got up again. She made her way down the aisle even faster this night. I wondered if she was going to tell me that her life had begun to take a turn for the better — that the Lord had begun to clean the cobwebs.

“‘Pastor Fermin, please, one last time? Can you please pray that the Lord cleans the cobwebs —’

“I stopped her mid-sentence. I stopped her because I realized we were praying the wrong prayer.

“And so I prayed, Father, we do not ask You tonight to clean the cobwebs from Ms. Ramirez’s life. In fact, Lord, keep them there for now. But tonight we ask for something much greater. Tonight we ask that You KILL THE SPIDER in Ms. Ramirez’s life. In the Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

“Carlos, I have watched you your entire life. You are a professional at cleaning the cobwebs from your life. You are amazing at playing the part and being used by God in spite of your circumstances. But do not go to this place and try to clean up your life. That won’t work. You have to kill the spider. You must find the producer of all the cobwebs in your life and kill it. It is much more difficult, but that is why you are there. To kill the spider.”

And, my friends, find it I did. I imagine one of these things is running through your head right now:

1. I don’t think I have a problem with spiders, but how can I be sure?
2. I think I have 200 spiders, so how will I kill them all?

I define a “spider” as an agreement you’ve made with a lie. A cobweb is a medicator that brings false comfort to a lie.

We all have cobwebs. We all have spiders. But here’s the good news: We have all been filled with the same power that rolled the stone away on the third day. “Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible’” (Matthew 19:26).

You CAN kill the spider.

I share my story to give you hope to face the spiders with the power of the God who makes the earth spin and float. Because with God, everything is possible.

Thank You, God, for being here. I invite You to come in and show me that place where I made an agreement with a lie that has kept me bound. Give me a memory or a word — something that will help me get to the root of the cobwebs I keep cleaning. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY: John 16:23-24, “At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.” (NLT)

When You’re Stuck Not Loving Your Life by TRACIE MILES

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation …” Philippians 4:12b (NIV)

Life had not turned out the way I had hoped and planned. And I wasn’t happy about it.

In fact, I was discontent with everything. It’s not that I wanted “more,” I just wanted “different.” I found myself feeling stuck in a life I didn’t love and powerless to change it.

When life is hard, heartbreaking or even just disappointing, it’s easy to start disliking life altogether. Especially when we feel as if life should be one way, but instead it’s another way entirely, and it may not even be our fault. When this happens, we can easily get stuck in a negative mindset — not only about life, but possibly about God — both of which open the door for discontentment to settle in.

We can feel stuck when a difficult situation rages into our lives and we don’t like it one bit, yet can’t escape it. We can feel stuck when it seems we’ve done everything possible to bring about change of some sort — yet nothing seems to ever change. Or when we’re constantly trying to manipulate things to go our way, control things out of our control, or change people whom we have no power to change.

When our lives are filled with obligations we “have to” meet, or responsibilities we know we “should” or “must” do, we can feel as if there is no way out and be unhappy about the perception of being stuck.

In these moments, it’s easy to lose sight of all of the good things about our lives. Through faith alone, I’ve finally come to realize that even if it seems justified, I don’t have to let discontentment poison my heart and mind. I don’t have to let the things that are not perfect cause me to take life itself for granted. And I certainly don’t have to let unhappiness with some things blind me to all the wonderful things in my life God has given me that bring me true joy.

This is exactly what Paul was teaching in today’s key verse. In Philippians 4:12, Paul told the church at Philippi, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (NIV)

Considering the apostle’s difficult life, this is a pretty amazing attitude. He wrote these specific words while sitting in a prison cell. He’d been arrested on false charges by corrupt officials and faced the possibility of execution, yet he wrote that he’d learned to be content with whatever he had. Which at the moment was literally nothing, not even his freedom. How could he feel that way after all he’d been through … and while he was in prison?

In Philippians 4:13 we find the answer. Paul said, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (NIV) Regardless of his circumstances and despite having endured much persecution and loss, Paul could live with peace and contentment because his heart was right with God. He knew his unwavering faith was the foundation for lasting contentment.

Life is not always exciting. It’s not always easy. It’s not always fair. It’s not always overflowing with opportunity and adventure. Consequently, we’re all going to feel a sense of unhappiness or discontentment from time to time. But we don’t have to stay stuck there.

The life we are living today, with all it includes (or doesn’t include), is the life God has given us. We can choose to be content and joyful in it, or choose to be the opposite. 

Lord, help me be content with the way my life looks right now, rather than wishing it were different or better. Help me break free from feelings of discontentment and learn to live with a heart full of gratitude and love for the life You have given me, no matter what it may look like. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY: Psalm 37:4, “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (NIV

Does God Even Care About Me? by GLYNNIS WHITWER

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.” Matthew 10:29 (NIV)

A good friend’s father abandoned the family when she was young. As a result, she struggled relating to God as her Father. Another friend’s dad was harsh and critical. It took years for her to feel unconditionally loved by God.

As a young Christian, I was thankful I didn’t have major issues with my father. Although my dad wasn’t a Christ-follower, he allowed my mom to take me and my little sister to church. And though he never said, “I love you” nor attended any of my school performances, I knew he loved me in his own way. My father was a good man, hardworking and faithful to his family. However, he was an uninvolved presence in my life.

So if I had a problem, I went to my mother. If I got into trouble, I called my mother. When I wanted advice, well, you can guess whom I called. This didn’t seem odd to me.

For years I congratulated myself on navigating my father’s distant personality with minimal negative impact. I was deeply aware it could have been worse, and I thanked God for a happy childhood. It wasn’t until years later as an adult that I pushed a little deeper into relating to God as my heavenly Father, based on my earthly experience.

Back then I’d heard everyone (even those with great dads) has some kind of “father issue” with God because of their human (and inherently sinful) earthly fathers. While I wanted to dismiss it, I decided to revisit the topic. Could it be true for me? Was there something missing in my relationship with God?

As I dug deep, I discovered that although I was confident of God’s love, I didn’t really trust Him to be there in times of trouble. Would He step in if I had a problem? Does God even care about me?

Every question revealed the same disturbing truth: I didn’t really, truly, deep in my heart, trust God. Believe in? Yes. Love? Yes. But … trust? The words were easy to mouth, but my heart wasn’t singing the same tune.

This realization shed light on so many issues that hadn’t seemed troublesome enough to address. Like why I had trouble praying for myself. And why I had so much fear for myself and my children, or why I neglected to seek God’s wisdom in decision-making.

Seems I really did have “father issues” that affected my intimacy with God. I didn’t know what it was like to have a father to turn to in good or bad times. But I wanted to learn. I desperately wanted to know God as a perfect Father.

So as awkward as it felt, I made some changes.

I intentionally got more personal in prayer, even addressing God as “Dad.” (Mark 14:36) Faced with decisions, even small ones, I asked God for advice. (James 1:5) And when fear started to well up, like when I navigated a fear of flying, I declared, “I don’t trust the pilot, I don’t trust the mechanic who tightened the bolts, I don’t trust the weather, I trust YOU!” (Psalm 91)

Little by little, my faith and trust grew. I took doubtful thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) and intentionally exchanged them with thoughts that affirmed God’s trustworthiness to help in times of trouble.

I also took today’s key verse to heart: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care” (Matthew 10:29). It took years to rewire my thinking with the truth about God’s ability and willingness to be my heavenly Father. And honestly, I’m still a work in progress.

When I slip back into my independent ways, I must choose to believe what’s true: I have a Heavenly Father who wants to be my hero, champion, protector and confidant — if I’ll only let Him.

Dear heavenly Father, You’re perfect in all Your ways. Your Word says You are a loving father, and I long to know You that way. Only You know the gaps in our relationship based on my imperfect understanding of You. Please reveal them to me, and help me work through them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY: Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (NIV)

Psalm 91:14-15, “‘Because he loves me,’ says the LORD, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.’” (NIV)

Three Things You Must Remember When Rejected by LYSA TERKEURST

“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.” Psalm 34:19 (NIV)

I scooted into the restaurant booth beside my daughter Ashley. Her first-semester college grades had been posted for two days, but she’d refused to look at them. We decided to review them together at one of our favorite restaurants.

Together is a great way to press through something you’re afraid could make you feel a bit undone.

School hasn’t always been easy for Ashley. When she was in the eighth grade, her teachers requested a meeting to talk with us. We were stunned to find out she was failing every class.

It wasn’t from her lack of effort. She needed some special tutoring that wasn’t available at her current school.

Immediately, I knew that would never work. I also think the school knew this wouldn’t work. So, they offered to help us have her transferred to a different school.

It wasn’t intended as a rejection. But it sure felt like one to Ashley’s tender heart.

Yet slowly, little successes at her new school gave her enough confidence to believe it was possible to turn things around. And by the end of that year, she was on the dean’s list. By the time she got into high school, she was making great grades and even graduated with honors.

Now in college, Ashley had chosen an academically rigorous major. She’d given it her all. But the exams carried a lot of weight toward her overall grades, and she just wasn’t sure how she’d done. And although that eighth-grade rejection was very far from her at that point, the fear still lingered.

The enemy loves to take our rejection and twist it into a raw, irrational fear that God really doesn’t have a good plan for us.

This fear is a corrupting companion. It replaces the truths we’ve trusted with hopeless lies. Satan knows what consumes us controls us. Therefore, the more consumed we are with rejection, the more he can control our emotions, our thinking and our actions.

So, what’s a brokenhearted person to do? We must take back control from something or someone that was never meant to have it and declare God as Lord. To see how we can practice this when the worries of rejection try to control us, here are three things to help us remember and proclaim.

1. One Rejection is Not a Projection of Future Failures 
It’s good to acknowledge the hurt, but don’t see it as a permanent hindrance. Move on from the source of the rejection, and don’t let it shut you down in that arena of life. It has already stolen enough from your present. Don’t let it reach into your future.

Renounce the negative talk that can hinder you, and replace it with praises for God, Who will deliver you.

2. There is Usually Some Element of Protection Wrapped in Every Rejection
This is a hard one to process at the time of the rejection. But for many of my past rejections, I can look back and see how God was allowing things to unfold the way they did for my protection.

In His mercy, He allowed this.

3. This is a Short-Term Setback, Not a Permanent Condition 
The emotions that feel so intense today will ease over time if we let them. We just have to watch how we think and talk about this rejection. If we give it the power to define us, it will haunt us long-term. But if we only allow rejection enough power to refine us, the hurt will give way to healing.

As I sat in that restaurant with Ashley and helped her process her fears through the filter of truth, courage emerged that no matter what happened — good or bad — she could trust God.

Finally, she clicked open the email revealing her grades. Not only did she pass, she was on the dean’s list. Tears!

I was so thankful that day that hers were tears of joy. But I’m also well aware that in the tomorrows that come, things could be different. Rejections big and small just seem to ebb and flow in and out of life. Troubles will still find us. But the Lord doesn’t just deliver us from some of our troubles. Our key verse, Psalm 34:19, tells us He delivers us from them all! “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.”

And I’ll give that truth a big, huge AMEN!

Father God, I won’t always understand why. But I do understand Your goodness to me in all situations. Help me replace the fears threatening to consume me with truth. I know You love me, You are for me, and I can absolutely trust You with all of my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY: Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (NIV)

Meditate On by Joseph Prince

And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

Mark 5:32–34 -------- TAKE FROM JESUS---------

In the healing of the woman with the issue of blood, you could say that the woman sneaked up behind Jesus and “stole” her healing! But was Jesus offended? Not at all! In fact, He was so pleased with her boldness that He just had to meet her.

Jesus did not seek her out to rebuke her. No, He sought her out so that He could affirm her with His love and assure her that He wasn’t angry with her for having taken a portion of healing virtue from Him. That’s why He even called her “daughter” and encouraged her to walk in her healing—“Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

Beloved, that’s the heart of your Savior. He freely gives out His healing virtue to anyone who will take it from Him. So reach out and take from Him right now and bring pleasure to His heart!

What if I Truly Believed? by ANGIE SMITH

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)

My 4-year-old twins made it abundantly clear they were not interested in sitting on Santa’s lap — which may or may not have been related to the previous year not going so well.

Imagine my surprise when Ellie caught a glimpse of the new Santa and wanted a picture with him. Her hair wasn’t brushed, and she had paint on her leggings, but I figured I’d go for it before she changed her mind. Let’s just say our style choices differed from the rest of the line, and I was beginning to feel insecure. Just then, Ellie loudly announced that she was going to ask Santa to give all her toys to poor kids. I was elated. Take that, giant-bow kids. Mine is Kingdom-focused.

She hesitated when it was her turn, but her resolve quickly kicked in, and she boldly approached the throne.

This was going to be a glorious moment. Not just for her, but for me. I would be crowned Mother of the Year, despite the fact she looked unkempt.

“Santa … I would really love …” she looked at me, and I motioned her on. She paused. And then the floodgates opened.

“… the Barbie with the sparkly fish tail and the dress at the store and the pretend kitchen with the oven and the Rapunzel movie and …”

She didn’t take a breath for a solid minute, and I’m pretty sure I blacked out. I did the walk of shame away from the smug moms. I did not make eye contact with anyone. Or thank the elf. Or purchase the photo.

It was a dark day, folks.

But here’s the point: When she sat on Santa’s lap, she thought he had the power to give her the true desires of her heart.

The truth is that we ask in proportion to what we believe. Similarly, in our prayer lives … if we don’t believe God is able, we won’t pray as if He is.

When Jesus approaches a man who’s been crippled for 38 years, Jesus asks if he wants to be healed. (John 5:6) Given that the man had been sitting with other invalids for years, waiting for water from a healing pool to be stirred to get healed, we can assume the answer is yes. But that’s not what he says; in fact, he doesn’t even answer the question.

He tells Jesus he never gets a chance to go in because everyone goes before him, and no one helps him. He’s so caught up thinking about the reasons he hasn’t been healed that he doesn’t hear what Christ is asking.

When we allow our past experiences to dictate our future expectations, we spend our time sitting still by healing waters instead of trusting the voice of our Healer. We forget it’s not the natural that heals us; it’s the supernatural.

Consider the difference between the crippled man and Bartimaeus, who meets Jesus as He travels through town. He calls out to Jesus, begging for mercy while those around rebuke him and urge him to stop. He won’t — not until Jesus comes and asks what he wants.

Bartimaeus doesn’t hesitate: He asks for his sight back and is instantly healed. Jesus tells him it’s his faith that made it so.

Obviously Bartimaeus hasn’t been successful in receiving healing for his sight, but it doesn’t stop him from asking the One he believes is able. I wonder if I can say the same of my own prayers.

I think about Ellie sitting on Santa’s lap, looking into his eyes and believing this man had the power to give her what she wanted most; it changed the way she approached him.

Just like we read in today’s key verse: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).

Ellie didn’t get everything she listed that day with Santa, and we likely won’t either. But in that moment, she believed he was able, and that’s the magnificent place where hope starts to grow wild.

Lord, give us the courage to pray with expectancy and hope, to put aside anything in our past that makes us feel like it’s impossible. Give us the confidence that allows us to look past this world and steady ourselves in You instead. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Hope Button by Arlene Pellicane

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope…” (Lamentations 3:21, NIV).

Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a hope button?  Something you could just press when you felt pessimism and misery weighing you down?

Friend, you have a button like this available for your use.  It’s nestled in between despair and the dawning of hope recorded in the book of Lamentations.  The writer, Jeremiah the prophet, is utterly broken.  Jerusalem, the City of David, had been attacked and destroyed.  Jeremiah sees no hope of restoration, wholeness, or safety. 

He cries out to God with many complaints such as “he has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship” (v. 5), “he has weighed me down with chains” (v. 7), and “he has trampled me in the dust” (v. 16).  Jeremiah is remembering all that went wrong and his soul is depressed and despondent. 

Yet somehow, he reaches for the hope button in verse 21 and it becomes his turning point: 

“Yet this I call to mind and there I have hope…” 

What is the “this” that Jeremiah is calling to mind?  We find it in verses 22-23:

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” 

Jeremiah is shifting his focus from the rubble around him to the fact that he is still standing.  He remains unconsumed because of God’s great love.  “Compassions” is plural illustrating how God showers us with new compassion every morning.  Even though Jerusalem laid in ruin, the Word of God lasts forever. 

When Jeremiah pressed the hope button – recalling God’s great love and compassion – he could say in the midst of grief, “I have hope.  God is my portion and He is enough.” 

Have you felt hopeless in a particular area of your life lately?  It’s time to press the hope button.  You’re still here.  God’s mercies are for you today, and they are waiting to bless you tomorrow. 

When I went away to college, I was discouraged and miserable because I felt lost without my family, friends, and all things familiar.  I cried most days for the first few weeks.  I did however have a Christian roommate with a flair for art.  She painted our dorm room walls with Bible verses.  Guess what she painted?  Lamentations 3:22-23 which reminded me every morning when I opened my eyes that God’s compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness. 
The next time you find yourself sitting in a heap of discouragement, press the hope button.  Surround yourself with the promises of God.  Recall His faithfulness and refresh your faith. 

Let’s Pray 
Dear Lord, I need Your encouragement today.  I take this moment to remember Your faithfulness to me.  Thank you for providing my next breath and everything I need.  Thank you that Your compassions never fail; they are new every morning.  Give me the wisdom to recognize your compassion and love for me. 
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn  
Reflect on your past and remember two instances when God proved Himself faithful to you.  Maybe He provided rent money exactly when you needed it, or brought healing to a relationship.  Spend a minute thanking God for His faithfulness in your life.

Why should we worship God?

Why should we worship God?



Question: "Why should we worship God?"

Answer: To worship is to show reverence and adoration for a deity or to something that represents a deity (e.g., a graven image). People worship all kinds of things: the true God (John 4:24), demons (Revelation 9:20), carvings or statues made to represent beasts (Exodus 32:7–8), the sun, moon, and stars (Deuteronomy 17:3), kings (Daniel 3:5), and themselves, including their own carnal appetites (Philippians 3:19).

The first occurrence of the word worship in the Bible is in Genesis 22:5. In that passage, Abraham and Isaac are headed up the hill to the altar where Abraham planned to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God’s command (Genesis 22:2). This was a test of Abraham’s faith—God never meant for him to sacrifice his son—and it is interesting that Abraham says to his servants, “Stay here . . . while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you” (verse 5). Clearly, Abraham thought of his obedience in this matter as an act of adoration or worship. And it is also interesting that he spoke in the plural (“we will come back”) even when he knew that God had commanded that he kill Isaac on the altar (cf. Hebrews 11:19).

Relationship with God naturally produces worship of Him. He tests us, challenges us, saves us, showers us with gifts, provides for us, and protects us. He is intimately involved in our lives, and in return, we praise and adore Him. We worship Him. True worship is not forced or false; worship flows naturally from us toward the One who controls our life and destiny. Whatever God wants from us, no matter how taxing, we will do, because our object of worship is of prime importance. And that is what worship is, at its heart.

Why should we worship God? Why is it imperative to worship Him alone, instead of statues or the moon or ourselves? In the end, the “why” of worship is about trust. Whom do we trust? King David wrote of some good reasons to praise and worship God:
“He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
The Lord reigns forever” (Psalm 146:6–10).

Why do we worship God? He is the only One worth worshiping. He alone deserves worship because He alone is good (Mark 10:18) and salvation is in Him alone (Revelation 19:1).
Recommended Resource: Gravity and Gladness: The Pursuit of God in Corporate Worship, DVD by John Piper

Unahin Mo Siya Panalo Ka - Bong Saquing - First Things First Snippets

Put God first whatever you do.Let Him be the center of your Life and you will win a great prize.
Just try it!! cause I will testify.

Christian Nation Nga Ba Tayo - Bong Saquing - First Things First Snippets

Redeeming the Time

Nowadays we see and hear wicked things happening all over the places this was the time that are God is coming. Lets cherish the day that our God given unto us

Faith Progress

Read: Psalm 37

Making your Faith grow and strong.

1. Trust in the Lord, v3
* Salvation

2. Delight yourself in the Lord, v4
* Communion

3. Cometh thy way to the Lord, v5
* Guidance

4. Rest in the Lord, v7
* Patience

5. Wait in the Lord, v34
* Hope

Jordan Feliz - The River (Lyric Video)

ABOVE ALL

You took the fall and thought of me ABOVE all. Your so Righteous and Faithful God You did everything just to save my life being a sinner like me.THANK YOU SO MUCH LORD.HALELLUJAH to your NAME.