WATCHWORD:
1 Sing a new song to the Lord!
Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!
2 Sing to the Lord; praise his name.
Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
3 Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
4 Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
He is to be feared above all gods.
5 The gods of other nations are mere idols,
but the Lord made the heavens!
6 Honor and majesty surround him;
strength and beauty fill his sanctuary.
7 O nations of the world, recognize the Lord;
recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong.
8 Give to the Lord the glory he deserves!
Bring your offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.
Let all the earth tremble before him.
10 Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. Psalm 96:1-10
Meditation:
Meditations
I wonder if we fully understand the power implied in that word — Meditation. How do you meditate? When you read daily devotionals, or scripture passages, or listen to a sermon, do you meditate on the content? Do you put yourself in the midst of the subject of that passage or a sermon?
You know the old saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but…” In kind of a weird way that could apply to us. The living water is all around us, in our daily devotionals, the Holy Bible that we hold in our hands, the subject of most sermons, these are all sources of living water if we would but take the time to think and consider what that means in the eyes of our Lord. How does that Word, that message, apply to our daily lives? How does that touch our hearts?
Oswald Chambers, in a recent devotional, talks about acting on the truth of God. We are presented with living water and we have the freedom to act on the truth of God, but the responsibility must be left to us, to you and me. That external source of information can cause you to act only if you allow it. Chambers says that once we truly act, think about, and meditate on the living water we will never be the same.
How many church worship services have you attended where you are called to worship? What does that mean to be called to worship? Are we too blasé about this? Are we serious about worship? Worshiping our Lord and Savior in spirit and in truth is definitely a serious matter. And during those periods of silence? Where are our minds?
Lord, help us to focus on You and You alone during those times of meditation, of worship, of devotional reading, of drinking in and digesting the living water of Your Word. So be it.
Bulletin Board:
Therefore I live for today –
Certain of finding a sunrise, guidance and strength for the way.
Power for each moment of weakness, hope for each moment of pain.
Comfort for every sorrow, sunshine and joy after rain!
— Anonymous
Praying Psalm 51:
Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of my salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Amen. Psalm 51:10-12
