Spontaneous Worship

I ascribe to You, GOD, THREE IN ONE, the glory due Your name even though I’m a creature only able to recognize or express a tiny bit of Your glory. You are perfect and pure (Rev 15:4). My spirit, so inclined to sin, falls prostrate before Your feet to pay honor to You (Rev 19:10). With fear and trembling (Ps 96:9) I gaze upon Your beauty— Your delightful loveliness—Your sweet attractiveness (Ps 27:4).

You bless me by choosing me and causing me to come near that I may dwell in Your presence. You make me satisfied by fearful and glorious things—these things that terrify the wicked but make me sing praises (Ps 65:4,5). Truly, a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere (Ps 84:10). I spontaneously worship in the splendor of Your holiness (Ps 29:2).

Prayer Facts:

“No sacrifice which a lover would make for his beloved is too great for
us to make for our enemy….if we pray for them, we are taking their distress and poverty, their guilt and perdition upon ourselves, and pleading to God for them. We are doing vicariously for them what they cannot do for themselves” (ref#10, p148-150).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because You formed my inward parts and knitted me together in my mother’s womb (Ps 139:13), I will wait for You.
Because You search me thoroughly and know me (Ps 139:1), I will wait for You.

Because You understand my thoughts and are acquainted with all my ways (Ps 139:2-3), I will wait for You.

Because You are upright and make my path level (Isa 26:7), I will wait for You.

Because You draw near on the day I call to You (Lam 3:57), I will wait for You.

Because You hear my voice and take up my cause (Lam 3:56,58), I will wait for You.

“O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all…” (Ps 104:24 ESV).

FATHER, You are “omniscient.” You know all things and have infinite knowledge (ref#110, p946).

You have “wisdom.” You have the “power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action” (ref#110, p1533).

You are “knowing.” You are aware and have knowledge, understanding and are deliberate and intentional (ref#110, p748).

You are a “torch”—“a source of enlightenment, illumination, inspiration” (ref#110, p1411).

You are “luminous.” You are filled with light—clear and brilliant (ref#110, p804). “Great is our Lord…His understanding is infinite” (Ps 147:5 NASU).

Omniscient

FATHER, how manifold are Your works (Ps 104:24).

You are omniscient—
knowing all things and
having infinite knowledge (ref#110, p946).

In wisdom You have made Your works (Ps 104:24).

You have the “power of judging rightly

and following the soundest course of action.”
You are the all-wise GOD (ref#110, p1533).

Great are You, LORD (Ps 147:5).
You are the “source of enlightenment;”
You illuminate and inspire (ref#110, p1411).

You are filled with light (ref#110, p804).

Your understanding is infinite (Ps 147:5);

You are the all-knowing GOD—

deliberate and intentional—
And aware of everything (ref#110, p748).

PSALM 89:15-18

FATHER, how blessed and happy I am, yes, how fortunate and to be envied for I understand and appreciate Your spiritual blessings. I have accepted Your invitation to walk in the light of Your face (Ps 89:15).

With Your favor my walk is stately and self-assured (ref#68, [Ps 89:15]). I feel in my conscience that You are my FATHER (ref#67, [Ps 89:15]). I shall live in Your acts of kindness and enjoy Your smiles (ref#16, [Ps 89:15]).

Because of You, I rejoice; because of Your righteousness You exalt me (Ps 89:16). You justify me freely from all things; You purify me from all unrighteousness. I am growing in grace and in the knowledge of JESUS now, and at last will be exalted to Your right hand to reign with You forever (ref#15, [Ps 89:16]). In the enjoyment of Your divine favor I grow more wise, more holy, more powerful, and, consequently, more happy (ref #15, [Ps 89:17]).

All I am and have I owe to You (Ps 89:18). All that I rely on as a defense belongs to You or is of You (ref#16, [Ps 89:18]). Since You are my ruler, You are my defender; and who is he then that can harm me (ref#18, [Ps 89:18])?

I am blessed to know the joyful sound—to know I am convened to the place of Your worship (ref#16, [Ps 89:15]). I am blessed to know the festal shout, I walk, O LORD, in the light of Your face, I exult in Your name all the day and in Your righteousness I’m exalted (Ps 89:15-16).

For You are the glory of my strength; by Your favor my horn is exalted. For my shield belongs to You, O LORD, my very self to the Holy One of Israel (Ps 89:17-18). I know the festal shout For I walk in the light of Your face, You are the glory of my strength My shield belongs to You, O LORD.

Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Amen

Who Are the Resisters?

FATHER, Your general revelation makes You universally known (Rom 1:19-20). But, although everyone knows of You, many refuse to honor You or give You thanks (Rom 1:21). Instead many give worship and pay homage to other powers and objects (Rom 1:23) even though their conscience condemns them (ref#56, p1613, “Mankind’s Guilty Knowledge of God”).

FATHER, You rise up early and speak, but I’m not sure ____ hears; You call (him/her) but (he/she) does not answer (Jer 7:13). I don’t believe that (he/she) knows that sinning against You wrongs (his/her) own soul (Prov 8:36). (He/She) seems to be wise in (his/her) own eyes and clever in (his/her) own sight (Isa 5:21).

Sometimes (he/she) is as quick to flee from You, as Jonah (Jonah 1:3). Sometimes (he/she) does not pay attention to Your outstretched hand (Prov 1:24), ignoring Your counsel and having none of Your reproof (Prov 1:25). Yes, most often (he/she) is complacent toward You, not seeking or inquiring of You (Zeph 1:6). As a “resister,” ____ makes two mistakes: (he/she) forsakes You (Jer 2:13), and depends on (his/her) own wisdom (Rom 1:22).

FATHER, I pray that ____ has not become so complacent that (he/she) is settled and indifferent toward You (ref#56, p1317, [Zeph 1:12])—that (he/she) sits down comfortable in the seat of scoffers (Ps 1:1).

Please put a fear of You in (him/her) so (he/she) accepts correction (Zeph 3:7). I long to see the day when (he/she) waits for You (Zeph 3:8)—when (he/she) calls upon You and serves You (Zeph 3:9).

It is You alone who will take away the judgments against ____ (Zeph 3:15). You alone are the mighty One who will save (Zeph 3:17). You alone gather the outcasts (Zeph 3:19). And, in You alone (he/she) will rest quietly content in Your sovereignty and love (Zeph 3:17) convinced You always have (his/her) best interests in mind.

To Be Purposeful

FATHER, prompt ____ to strip off and throw aside every encumbrance and let (him/her) run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before (him/her), looking away from all that will distract, to JESUS (Heb 12:1-2).

ATTENTIVE FATHER, allow ____ to discover the unnecessary things that are just occupying (his/her) time. Show (him/her) the things to do that are most worthwhile (ref# 81, July 29). In all (his/her) affairs may (he/she) distinguish between the important and the urgent. May (his/her) character and not (his/her) circumstances chiefly engage (him/her) (ref# 76, p78). May (his/her) desires for a good self-image be replaced with glory-making for You alone. Soli Deo Gloria—To GOD alone the glory.

Embolden ____’s cowardly hesitation (Rev 21:8). You say the one who conquers will possess Your heritage (Rev 21:7). Remind (him/her) repeatedly to be actively persistent—to be purposeful in (his/her) daily activities (Heb 12:1).

The one fact CHRIST mentions to all seven churches He addresses in the book of Revelation is if they overcome He will grant them fellowship (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26: 3:5, 12, 21). I pray for ____, FATHER, to prevail over the tangents on the race set before (him/her) whether they come in moments of urgency or during the mundane tasks of life.

Made Perfect by Suffering

FATHER, persevere with ____ as You teach (him/her) why suffering is necessary to procure (his/her) obedience to You. You brought situations that made Your Son suffer saying through those unpleasant circumstances He learned obedience (Heb 5:8).

CHRIST also suffered on ____’s behalf leaving behind for (him/her) a model to imitate. I pray that by close application (he/she) might follow in His Savior’s footprints (1 Pet 2:21).

“…there is one very comforting thought in the fact of Christ’s ‘being made perfect through suffering’—it is, that He can have complete sympathy with us. ‘He is not an high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.’ In this sympathy of Christ we find a sustaining power” (ref#34, March 29th AM).

CHRIST was “made perfect” by suffering (Heb 5:9). And ____ must suffer also, so (he/she) might identify with Him (2 Tim 2:12). Affliction deflates the human ego. It is in opposition to what ____ naturally wants. In ____’s humanness (he/she) wants everything that inflates (his/her) ego. (He/She) would love to present (himself/herself) to You beautiful and fit for Your service but that attitude is only (his/her) old fleshly nature wanting to be righteous. Instead, the affliction You bring causes wounds and displays (his/her) weaknesses. Wounds take away (his/her) covering so dear to (him/her)—the veil of (his/her) own righteousness (ref#128, p457).

FATHER, plant the truth of being made perfect by suffering deep within ____ . Anchor (him/her) so (he/she) will not be moved by afflictions for (he/she) is destined for them (1 Thes 3:3). “Thinkest thou to espouse a God, covered with wounds, torn with nails and despoiled of everything without being treated in the same manner” (ref#128, p457)? Encourage ____ LORD, with all (his/her) tribulations for in them (he/she) is more the beautiful to You.

Discipleship

ALL-WISE FATHER, I do not need to know how to disciple others. I only need to know how to be a disciple myself. My life lived out teaches others of what it is to be a disciple.

“Our Lord makes a disciple His own possession, He becomes responsible for him….The spirit that comes in is not that of doing anything for Jesus, but of being a perfect delight to Him” (ref#7, Sept 4th).

“…the only men and women He will use…are those who love Him personally, passionately and devotedly beyond any of the closest ties on earth” (ref#7, May 7th).

FATHER, forgive me for not taking seriously enough Your constraint on me as CHRIST’s disciple. Let me put my energies toward exclusively becoming personally, passionately and devotedly yielded to CHRIST. May I desire not to rejoice in successful service, but rejoice that I’m rightly related to CHRIST (ref#7, Oct 27th).

JESUS said, “…’All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go…and make disciples…” (Matt 28:18-19 ESV). Do I believe that when I “go” JESUS does the work of making disciples? This is my challenge. If I believe “that people are difficult to get saved, that backsliders are difficult to reclaim,…” (ref#7, Oct 27th) it is because I have commissioned myself with my natural talents to make disciples.

Making a relationship with You, LORD, is my work. And, relationship-making is difficult work. Because I desire such a relationship, satan may no longer tempt me to simply do wrong things.

Instead, his temptations will be along the same line that he tempted JESUS. His temptations will be crafted toward separating You from me. He hopes to discourage me so I give up on all the grace You have put into me (ref#7, Sept 18th). Satan attempts to keep me from being obedient to You. He wants me to cease being Your disciple (ref#7, Sept 18th). Therefore, FATHER, enlarge my desire to muse on CHRIST and enjoy His presence above all.

Knowledge Puffs Up

FATHER, make me realize that my earthly wisdom only corrupts me. I can know the truth of Your justice, and what righteousness You require but my knowledge does nothing to save me or put me in communion with You. I can ponder Your patience, goodness, forbearance, and mercy but knowledge alone does not lead me to repentance (ref#35. p197).

Whatever discovery I have of truth, (without it coming from CHRIST’s mouth, through the SPIRIT), I hold captive under unrighteousness (Rom 1:18). O GOD, how guilty I am for engaging my mind in learning Christianity instead of humbling myself before CHRIST and waiting for Him to teach my heart. FATHER, impede me from thinking the Scriptures give me eternal life (John 5:39). I am like a “brute beast” if my wisdom corrupts me (ref#35, p197, [Jude 10]).

If there be anything that will do me good, CHRIST is interested in dispensing it to me. Until I desire to make Him captain of my salvation (Heb 2:10) I will be led by the futility of my own wisdom. FATHER, help me be satisfied with only knowing CHRIST and not just knowing about Him (ref#35, p199).

FAVOR DISPENSING GOD, it is amazing to consider that all my Scripture learning, my choices of what is doctrinally correct, and my efforts to abide by my good morals do not make me a genuine Christian. Help me recognize my own efforts toward spiritually and the way I use then for my glory instead of Yours.

“…we are not made to be made much of. We are made to make much of something great. The best joys are when we forget ourselves, enthralled with greatness. The greatest greatness is God’s. Every good that ever thrilled the heart of man is amplified ten thousand times in God” (ref#145, Oct 29, 2003).

My Song

My soul magnifies You, LORD,
and my spirit rejoices in You, my Savior.

You have regarded my lowly state.
You do great things for me (Luke 1:46-49).

You who are mighty
And holy is Your name (Luke 1:49).

“From Calvary’s cross

wave upon wave of grace reaches me” (ref#76, p158).

You take care of my sin
And You change my heart
You fortify my will
For You rouse my affection (ref#76, p158).

“O my Strength,
to you I sing praises,
for you,…are my refuge,…
who shows me unfailing love” (Ps 59:17 NLT).

Through the abundance of Your steadfast love,

I will enter Your house.
I will bow down and worship
in reverent fear and awe of You (Ps 5:7).