For thousands of years, people have found comfort in the Psalms. No matter what emotion you are experiencing or fight you're facing, the psalms have something important to say. For the next little while, Love Lines from God will feature, "Solace from the Psalms." We hope you enjoy. And please share them with a friend.
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. Psalm 92:1 NLT
Retirement years
weren’t always celebrated—and with good reason. There were none.
People worked
until they died or became physically incapacitated, at which time they depended
on family and savings. Then a reason for celebration happened. While the United
States of America was in the grips of economic depression, Congress passed a
law creating the Social Security system. Income now flows in a person’s senior years.
Social Security
and retirement savings give reason to celebrate our latter years, and the
worship experience is the believer’s opportunity to celebrate God’s goodness.
Unfortunately, worship becomes drudgery when performed for the wrong reasons,
such as coming because of rote tradition instead of a heartfelt desire to
encounter the living God. Or showing up at church out of guilt, hoping the
songs and sermon will alleviate emotional pain.
The psalmist’s
picture of worship is radically different. Worship celebrates God as Sovereign
ruler and Savior. It entails joy over His provision of our daily needs and
celebrates His promise to work good from all life’s circumstances—the enjoyable
and unenjoyable. This only occurs when we’ve examined our heart’s condition
prior to the experience and come desiring to encounter God, not merely fulfill
a duty.
Worship also
celebrates God’s eternal qualities. Our earthly future and eternal destiny are in
His hands. Worshipping God in the present prepares us for an eternity of the
same but at a higher level. But if we’re not intentional, temporal
responsibilities and attractions can sabotage our loyalties.
Those who master
worshipping God effectively flourish like trees and bear fruit into their old
age. Worship isn’t about carrying on a family tradition, but celebrating an
individual relationship with a living Lord. One that transforms the way we
think, feel, and act.
Enter into worship
with anticipation.
Tweetable: Are you celebrating God's Goodness?
Prayer: Father,
may our worship be vibrant, exciting and heartfelt as we realize we’re
worshipping a great and glorious God.
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FWqQT8kO7RA/XTG8MeIV0GI/AAAAAAAAgLA/5jrX4HV5Ah4JdFqINWFCJkvGc8Mqxl8FwCLcBGAs/s200/AHeartSurrendered.jpg)
Amen to that, everyone needs God's goodness whether they realize it or not. Thanks for joining the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
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