Worship with Gladness

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. – (Psalm 100:2)

 

Worship is our outward expression of our inward appreciation for who God is within us. Thankfully, His nature never changes, thus our praise is not circumstantial. Often, even in the midst of the most difficult seasons that I find myself walking through, if I allow my heart to let go and focus all that I am on worship songs, I end up so caught up in the moment, that I soon discover my heart is overflowing with His joy, as for Him, I have great reason to be glad. No matter what we face in the here and now, our future is certain in Christ. For that alone, we have reason to be glad, and to bring before Him our joyful songs of praise. May we take time each day to worship the One who gives our hearts true gladness, and offer Him the joyful songs waiting to be sung.

 

Let all that we do,

worship Christ the King;

as we bring Him praise,

our glad offering.

Let’s come forth in song,

full of thanks and joy;

with all that we are,

may our hearts employ.

No matter what comes,

Christ is on the throne;

His love will not change,

and our hope is known.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our help and our hope that will not change. Thank You that You are our strength and our song. Thank You that joy is not circumstantial, but rather it is something that is deeply rooted in knowing You, and the hope that we have forever through the grace that we have been given. Forgive us for our failure to worship You with glad and grateful hearts when trials overwhelm us. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will offer joyful songs unto You, regardless of what we are going through, because of who You are. Lead us to love others with the sort of love that demonstrates the hope that is found in You alone. May many come into a lasting relationship with You, Lord. Be exalted O God, as we worship You with gladness; and come before You with joyful songs. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

May God Almighty grant you mercy. – Genesis 43:14

Approach With Confidence

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. – (Hebrews 4:16)

 

Christ came and endured all temptations and trials known to man, yet was without sin. He knows what we face. He knows when we fall. We are His and we are loved. Our path to approach the throne of grace is through prayer, and we may do so confidently, yet reverently, because He is both our loving Heavenly Father and Christ the King. Jesus is available as our Counselor and our Friend, and is our ever present help in our time of need. His mercy is made available to all who call on His Name. May we approach His throne with confidence, being supplied all that we need, as God is loving and merciful to those who call on Him.

 

Look to the throne,

of God’s mercy seat;

where grace is shown,

a gift to receive.

With confidence,

go boldly before;

our help in need,

Holy Counselor.

Boldly approach,

in prayer, we shall come;

before the Lord,

most merciful One.

He is our help,

in our time of need;

our Source of strength,

when we’re feeling weak.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You sent Your Son, Jesus, to come live, die and rise again, experiencing every temptation and trial that He did, so that He could be the perfect High Priest for us. Jesus, thank You for all that You endured on our behalf, and for remaining seated at the right hand of the Father, listening to our every prayer and receiving us as we come. Thank You that because of Your sacrifice, we are considered acceptable before You – not because of anything that we have or have not done, but because of You dwelling within us. Forgive us for approaching Your throne either meekly or flippantly. Teach us to have a proper perspective as we come before You in prayer. May we do so with both confidence and reverence, giving all glory and honor unto You. Lead us to love people as You so generously love each of us, and may many come into a saving relationship with You as a result. Be glorified Lord God, as we approach Your throne of grace with confidence and reverence. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Because of the tender mercy of our God, …the rising sun will come to us from heaven. – Luke 1:78